The U.S. Embassy in Uganda has officially refuted claims that Ambassador William Popp was asked to apologize by the Ugandan government, following a wave of allegations circulating on social media.
In a statement posted on the embassy’s official account on X (formerly Twitter), officials clarified that “this narrative is completely false,” emphasizing that neither the embassy nor Ambassador Popp have received any formal request for an apology from Ugandan authorities.
The embassy’s statement comes in response to a series of social media posts suggesting that Ambassador Popp had issued an apology regarding his recent conduct. These claims gained traction amid increasing diplomatic tensions between the United States and Uganda, particularly following remarks from Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba. General Kainerugaba had threatened a “serious confrontation” over what he characterized as disrespectful behavior by the U.S. Ambassador toward President Yoweri Museveni and the nation’s constitution.
This recent clarification from the U.S. Embassy aims to quell the escalating diplomatic tensions, which have intensified in light of General Kainerugaba’s comments. The embassy firmly denied any official communication requests from the Ugandan government for an apology, contradicting the swirling claims of a formal apology being demanded and subsequently issued.
U.S. Senator Jim Risch also weighed in on the situation, stressing the importance of maintaining a “non-partisan” engagement with Uganda. His warning that further confrontation could lead to “serious consequences” adds weight to the diplomatic concerns, especially in light of General Kainerugaba’s provocative tweets.
