ORDER FROM ABOVE? Did Museveni Really Force First Son Muhoozi Kainerugaba to Delete His Twitter Account?

A few days ago, the Twitter account of first son Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba and commander of the UPDF Land Forces was deleted. 

The account was deleted a few days left to Lt Gen Kainerugaba’s 48th birthday.

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As soon as it emerged that Lt Gen Kainerugaba’s account had been deleted, his supporters criticized Twitter for being intolerant and for suffocating freedom of expression.

The first son’s critics were in celebratory mood, thanking Twitter for removing the first son’s account.

But the manner of deletion of the account shows that it is not Twitter which removed the same.

Either the first son, who is also his father’s senior presidential advisor on special operations, or his handlers could have deactivated the account.

But the handle @mkainerugaba doesn’t bring an ‘Account Suspended’ flag. This clearly indicates that Twitter didn’t suspend the account as some had earlier concluded.

Some social media observers are also claiming that the deactivation of the first son’s Twitter account was an order from his father.

Those pushing this line of argument say that Gen Museveni was concerned that Kainerugaba had made it a habit to tweet about sensitive matters, sometimes contradicting the official government position.

Some of the tweets are said to have angered regional and international diplomats.

That President Museveni directed ‘tweeting General’ Muhoozi to delete the Twitter account and concentrate on special operations and commanding land forces, and leave the UPDF spokesperson and other government communication officers to keep communicating official government positions.

Yet some people say that Muhoozi could have just taken a break from Twitter after which they believe he will return before the end of 30 days after which Twitter is expected to deactivate the account.

While it is difficult to independently verify these claims, the first son has a chance to change his mind and reactivate his account before the end of the 30 days — if he deactivated it himself.

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