As the ultimatum dawned at 9am in Nsambya, Ugandans took to social media to wonder whether Mr Popp had bowed in or bailed out - with various meme to boot.

The US Mission in Uganda was Monday forced to break its silence after a section of political wheeler-dealers took to social media with claims that Ambassador William Popp had apologised to President Museveni as demanded.

Last Friday, the Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba issued a three-day ultimatum for Amb Popp to "personally apologise" to President Museveni and Ugandans.

Without revealing much, Gen Muhoozi, who is also the First Son, said Mr Popp had disrespected his father and Ugandans by engaging in "undiplomatic" conduct in the country.

The highly sensitive posts on X, formerly known as Twitter, were deleted later, but the shroud of tension in the air did not just dissipate.

As the ultimatum dawned at 9am in Nsambya, Ugandans took to social media to wonder whether Mr Popp had bowed in or bailed out - with various meme to boot.

But while the light moments could pass, the wheeler-dealers suggested that Mr Popp had bowed.

The furnish their lines of disinformation, they shared pictures of Amb Popp taken with President Museveni from past meetings.

"The United Stated Ambassador to Uganda, William W. Popp, has formally issued apology to the Chief of Defence Forces and President Museveni and the people for Uganda for his undiplomatic conduct in the country," said a faceless account going by the name 'Muhoozi Kainerugaba Quotes.

And it seemed to pull Uncle Sam from the quiet diplomacy it is engaging on the matter into the public fora.

"This narrative is completely false," the embassy said.

"Neither the US Embassy nor Amb Popp have received any formal request to apologise from the Ugandan government on any matter, nor has he apologised."

The embassy clarified that all official statements are posted on its platforms on social media and official website.