Ugandan president's son offers 100 cows to marry likely Italian PM Giorgia Meloni

"If the Romans reject our cows that means we must capture Rome."

By Ben Whedon

Published: October 7, 2022 4:14pm

Updated: October 7, 2022 4:37pm

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni's son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, issued a bizarre string of Tweets this week in which offered to trade 100 cows for the right to marry likely Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and threatened war should the "Romans" refuse his offer.

"For my Italian friends, these are Nkore cows," Kainerugaba wrote. "The most beautiful cows on earth. I know Europeans give girls they like flowers? I have never understood it. In our culture you give a girl you like a cow."

"I would give her 100 Nkore cows immediately! For being fearless and true!!" he wrote in a separate Tweet that included a picture of Meloni.

I would give her 100 Nkore cows immediately! For being fearless and true!! pic.twitter.com/i2DuR8RioC

— Muhoozi Kainerugaba (@mkainerugaba) October 2, 2022

Kainerugaba continued the tirade with a threat to go to war with Italy in the event that his offer of bovine was unwelcome, saying "[i]f the Romans reject our cows that means we must capture Rome. That would take us days to do," he said.

The president's son carried the schtick into the week, posting on Tuesday that "I think I have to start with Rome. But how do I get 100 cows through Customs?"

Kainerugaba's account has over 600,000 followers. He is known colloquially as the "Tweeting General" due to his unusual social media habits and military rank.

Museveni on Wednesday formally apologized for unrelated comments Kainerugaba made threatening to invade Kenya and announced he was removing his son from command of the country's land forces while simultaneously promoting him to four-star general, Politico reported. Museveni did not address his son's proposal to the Italian politician.

Meloni, a conservative populist, led a coalition of right-leaning parties to a resounding victory in the country's nation elections in late Septmber, positioning herself to likely become Italy's first female leader. As of press time, Meloni does not appear to have replied to her would-be suitor.