Spain's prime minister Mariano Rajoy kicked off an unexpected storm last week when he texted his finance minister. "Stand your ground, we're the number four power in Europe. Spain is not Uganda," he wrote, as Spain was in the middle of negotiations that led to a humiliating bailout.

According to Business Insider magazine, what the remark meant was: "We're a major power, not some random IMF-case banana republic."

Turns out, most Ugandans agree with Rajoy – but for less flattering reasons than the hapless Spanish PM might have had in mind. Under the hashtag #UgandaisnotSpain, hundreds of Ugandan Twitter users warmed to Rajoy's theme. The two countries are very different, they pointed out: Spain, for a start, is in double-dip recession, with negative economic growth, while Uganda's growth rate last year was a healthy 5.2%. Unemployment in the African country is just over 4% – less than a fifth of what it is in the European one. And the list went on.

Here's one young Ugandan blogger good-humouredly making the point:

And here's Ugandan journalist Jackee Batanda on some other differences that contradict Rajoy's "pernicious stereotype": "Despite the fluctuation of the Ugandan shilling last year that saw protests flare up around the country, the banks still managed to post profits. They don't need any bailouts.

"When the world looks at emerging markets, it is the countries like Uganda that offer hope for the future of growth. [Uganda is not] a lost cause. That's a long way from the truth. Uganda is a resource-rich country with a vibrant culture."

Learn more: Have some fun with the BBC's Spain is not Uganda. Discuss – and what differences or similarities have they missed? Post your suggestions below.