The U.S. Embassy in Uganda has issued a statement refuting claims that its Ambassador, William Popp, had been asked to apologize by the Ugandan government. The statement was posted on the embassy’s official account on X (formerly Twitter), in response to recent allegations circulating on social media regarding a diplomatic row between the two nations.
“This narrative is completely false. Neither the U.S. Embassy nor #AmbPopp have received any formal request to apologize from the Ugandan government on any matter, nor has he apologized. All official statements are posted on our platforms,” the embassy’s post read.
The clarification comes after a series of posts made on social media claiming that Ambassador William Popp had apologised.
It also comes on the heels of public exchanges, including a tweet from Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, threatening a “serious confrontation” with the U.S. Ambassador, accusing him of disrespecting Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni and undermining the country’s constitution.
This latest statement from the U.S. Embassy aims to quell the growing diplomatic tension between the two countries, following assertions by Gen. Muhoozi about the ambassador’s conduct. The U.S. Embassy has firmly denied receiving any official communication from the Ugandan government requesting an apology, which contradicts claims that a formal apology was demanded and issued.
The U.S. government has reiterated its commitment to engaging with Uganda on a “non-partisan basis,” as highlighted by U.S. Senator Jim Risch, who recently warned that any further confrontation could lead to serious consequences. His comments followed Muhoozi’s tweets, raising the stakes in the diplomatic spat.
