Uganda hosts Hemedti, Muhoozi calls him a “Criminal”

Last week, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni hosted Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti, at the presidential palace in Entebbe. The visit marked Dagalo’s first known international appearance since September last year.

The meeting has drawn strong condemnation from Sudan’s government. On Sunday, Khartoum denounced Uganda for receiving the RSF leader, calling the move an “irresponsible step” and accusing Kampala of backing a rebel force fighting the Sudanese state.

“The Government of Sudan condemns in the strongest terms the Ugandan government’s reception of the rebel Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, leader of the terrorist militia,” the statement said. It accused the RSF of committing atrocities against civilians, including killings, looting and sexual violence.

Khartoum said the meeting demonstrated “disregard for every value of humanity” and accused Uganda of ignoring the suffering of Sudanese civilians caught up in the conflict. The government added that the RSF’s actions had been condemned by the international community and regional bodies, including the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), of which Uganda is a member.

Sudan’s government described the RSF as a “terrorist militia” responsible for grave crimes, including ethnically motivated killings, and said Uganda’s move risked undermining regional norms. It argued that hosting Dagalo amounted to support for a rebellion against what it described as the internationally recognized government in Khartoum.

While acknowledging Uganda’s “sovereign right to receive whomever it wishes,” Sudan said it viewed the meeting as evidence of “a new policy” by Kampala that effectively sponsors the RSF. The statement urged Ugandan authorities to “refrain from such hostile conduct” and to ensure their territory is not used to facilitate Dagalo’s movements or activities linked to the conflict.

However, in a striking contrast to the official reception at the presidential level, Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, publicly criticized the RSF and its commander in a series of posts on his official X account.

Kainerugaba described Hemedti as “a criminal” and accused the RSF of having “the blood of thousands of black people on his hands.” He further alleged that the paramilitary group “feels like heroes for killing innocent black people,” and compared its actions to those of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, referencing the Holocaust during World War II.

In the posts, Kainerugaba wrote that he had “never chosen a war” in his life and that “it is always my God who carries me to wars.” He added that because of what he termed “high crimes” committed by the RSF against black people, “they must surrender immediately.”

The comments come amid ongoing fighting between the SAF and the RSF, which erupted in April 2023 and has since killed thousands and displaced millions. Both sides have been accused of serious human rights violations, allegations they deny.

Kainerugaba, who is the son of President Museveni, is known for his outspoken and often controversial social media presence, where he frequently comments on regional and international security matters.

Sudan has repeatedly found itself in diplomatic deadlock with neighboring countries over their decision to host leaders of the Rapid Support Forces. Khartoum previously condemned Kenya for hosting RSF representatives, a move it viewed as legitimizing the paramilitary group. The dispute escalated significantly, leading Sudan to sever diplomatic ties with Nairobi and halt all imports from Kenya. Similarly, Sudan’s relationship with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) became strained after the regional bloc engaged with RSF figures. Sudan has since rejoined IGAD after IGAD condemned the RSF.

The latest instance involving Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni hosting RSF representatives reflects the broader stance of Sudan’s military leadership, which considers such engagements as conferring political legitimacy on the group. The RSF has been widely accused of committing serious human rights violations, including acts that some observers say amount to genocide. Several of its senior commanders have been placed under international sanctions, with the European Union and the United States among the most recent to impose measures targeting high-ranking RSF leaders.