The simmering tension between Kenyan netizens and Ugandan authority has flared up again, this time centering on CNN correspondent Larry Madowo and Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba. What started as a journalistic inquiry has spiraled into a diplomatic spat played out in 280 characters.

The clash began when Muhoozi, fresh from his father President Museveni’s controversial re-election, took to X (formerly Twitter) to threaten the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) and its leader Bobi Wine, vowing to "extinguish" them. Larry Madowo, maintaining his journalistic beat, quoted the tweet to highlight the chilling nature of the threat.

"That CNN Boy"

The General’s response was swift and visceral. Muhoozi fired back with a tirade of insults, dismissing Madowo as "that CNN boy" and questioning his objectivity. The General’s history of erratic late-night tweets—dubbed "tweefs"—is well documented, but attacking a high-profile international journalist struck a nerve.

Kenyans on Twitter (KOT), a formidable digital army, immediately mobilized. The hashtag #HandsOffLarry began trending within hours. "Muhoozi thinks he can bully everyone," wrote one user. "Larry is a national treasure. You touch him, you touch us."

• The Digital Sovereignty: This incident underscores the unique power dynamic of the East African digital space. While Muhoozi commands an army of soldiers, KOT commands the narrative. The swift backlash forced a conversation about press freedom and the impunity of regional leaders.
• The Diplomatic Headache: For diplomats in Nairobi and Kampala, Muhoozi’s tweets are a recurring nightmare. His previous threats to "capture Nairobi" in two weeks nearly caused a diplomatic rift. This latest attack on a global media figure only adds to the perception of a regime intolerant of scrutiny.

The Bigger Picture

Larry Madowo, for his part, kept it professional, confronting the General via Direct Message (DM) to seek clarification on the threats to Bobi Wine. The exchange reveals the precarious state of democracy in the region, where a journalist doing their job is treated as an enemy combatant.

As the dust settles, one thing is clear: In the court of public opinion, General Muhoozi may have the rank, but Larry Madowo has the people.