- Museveni appoints son as Uganda’s army chief, sparking succession talks
- Kainerugaba’s rise fuels speculation of a planned presidential handover
- Controversial actions and statements highlight Kainerugaba’s complex public role
The promotion of Uganda’s eldest son to the position of army chief by President Yoweri Museveni has sparked concerns that he is preparing his son for the presidency.
Late on Thursday, the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs declared that General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who has risen swiftly through the ranks of the Ugandan army since the late 1990s, had been appointed chief of defence forces.
It has been speculated that the veteran leader is preparing his 49-year-old son to succeed him as president in light of his action. Kainerugaba declared his intention to compete for president in the 2026 elections in a now-deleted post on X from the previous year. However, he has reportedly denied rumours that he is also considering the highest office.
The president’s son has been conducting nationwide demonstrations in violation of a law that prohibits active-duty military personnel from participating in partisan affairs. However, Kainerugaba asserts that his endeavours are not partisan, citing the formation of the Patriotic League of Uganda as an example.
The “Muhoozi Initiative”
Since assuming power for the first time by force in 1986, Museveni, 79, has been re-elected six times. The fact that he has no opponents within the governing National Resistance Movement party has prompted widespread speculation that the military will influence the selection of his successor.
Proponents of Kainerugaba argue that he presents a potential avenue for a nonviolent transfer of authority in the territory formerly under British colonial rule, which could be the first such transition since the country gained independence in 1962. According to his detractors, his rise is propelling the East African nation towards hereditary rule.
With his rapid ascent through the ranks, Kainerugaba was nicknamed the “Muhoozi Project” when he enlisted in the army in the late 1990s. Museveni and Kainerugaba have refuted any conspiratorial notions regarding his ascent to the presidency. However, the latter’s promotion to army chief and subsequent reorganisation of ministerial positions indicate a potential transition.
Kainerugaba’s status as heir apparent has long been evident to many Ugandans; however, the government has historically maintained a strict stance against any discourse about this subject.
Ten days later, in 2013, two independent newspapers and two radio stations were shut down by the police in response to the publication of a smuggled confidential memo authored by a senior general. The memo alleged that Museveni was preparing Kainerugaba to succeed him.
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As a senior military official, Kainerugaba is not authorised to engage in public discourse concerning political affairs; however, he has consistently participated in contentious debates, which have caused diplomatic difficulties for Uganda.
He was deposed from his position as commander of land forces after making a bogus threat to invade neighbouring Kenya, an assertion he later clarified was unfounded.
Despite apologising to Kenya for his son’s outburst, Museveni has defended his only son as a “perfect general” and elevated him to that rank in the days following the dispute.
Kainerugaba made a proclamation last year wherein he threatened to dispatch troops to Moscow if the Imperialists ever posed a threat while also criticising Western countries for disseminating “vitaless pro-Ukraine propaganda.”
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