The office of the Senior Presidential Advisor on Special Operations has responded to allegations making rounds on social media that Maj. Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba and his entourage caused commotion at Sky Lounge, a Kampala hangout on the last day of 2018.
In a statement on Thursday, Major Chris Magezi, General Kainerugaba’s spokesperson said although the General was present at the venue, reports making rounds on social media that he was involved in commotion are “lies intended to spite and project a negative image of what was otherwise a happy occasion he (Gen Kainerugaba) attended.
Below is Major Magezi’s statement
To all concerned citizens
Our office has been been alerted to some falsehoods circulating on social media about the cross over to 2019 celebrations at a venue called Sky lounge in Kampala. These falsehoods concern Maj. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
I would like to use the same forum to assure all friends and colleagues of Gen. Keinerugaba who might be concerned with these misrepresentations, that these are lies intended to spite and project a negative image of what was otherwise a happy occasion he attended.
Here is the true record:
1) The venue was packed with people happy and enjoying the new year celebrations and no standing room was available . There was thus no alleged pushing and shoving intended by anyone. On the contrary all the people were squeezing in to find standing space.
2) There were many people at the venue who were happy Gen. Keinerugaba joined them to welcome the new year including the jokes about the ‘red berret’. What has been taken out of context on social media is that there were friends and colleagues all joking with him about the red cap, and him playfully insisting on wearing it since he regularly dons this as an army officer any way. Therefore, nobody intended or pushed anyone in out of the venue on account of a cap or dress code. It is absurd that a joke is politicized and made an issue.
3) Gen. Keinerugaba spent only 30 minutes at this venue and left with other colleagues. There was neither commotion nor any issues with anyone as projected on social media.
Thank you all
Maj. Chris Magezi