Ugandan President Elevates Son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, to Military Chief Position
Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni, aged 79, has elevated his son, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, to the position of military head amidst a significant cabinet reshuffle resulting in the dismissal of five ministers. Despite being in office since 1986, President Museveni refutes claims that he’s grooming his sole offspring as his successor. The promotion of Gen Kainerugaba, aged 49, comes with controversy as he’s increasingly engaging in political matters, breaching military protocols.
In 2022, Gen Kainerugaba faced repercussions when his father removed him from his post as commander of the army’s land forces due to threats made on Twitter, now identified as “X,” hinting at a potential invasion of neighboring Kenya. Despite an apology issued by President Museveni to Kenya’s leadership and a plea for forgiveness from Kenyans on behalf of his son, the contentious tweet remains unresolved. Instead of facing severe consequences, Gen Kainerugaba was promoted to the rank of general and retained as his father’s advisor.
His online behavior didn’t cease, as he made another controversial statement expressing intentions to send troops to Moscow to support President Vladimir Putin’s stance in the conflict with Ukraine. Consequently, Gen Kainerugaba replaces Gen Wilson Mbadi as the head of Uganda’s defense forces, with his predecessor transitioning to lead the trade ministry. Additionally, two of Gen Kainerugaba’s closest advisors have been appointed as ministers in the cabinet reshuffle.
The promotion of Gen Kainerugaba has evoked concern among various sectors. Opposition lawmaker Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda criticized President Museveni’s approach, describing Uganda as a “personal enterprise” of the president’s family and urging resistance against the perceived “family dynasty.”
Post the 2021 elections, allegations of torture and abductions by President Museveni, his son, and other officials emerged from the opposition. However, the president’s spokesperson refuted these claims, labeling them as misinformation spread by political rivals. Despite the controversy, Gen Kainerugaba had previously indicated his intention to run for president in the 2026 elections through a now-deleted post on “X.” His recent activities, including holding rallies to garner support nationwide, have drawn criticism from certain quarters.
Gen Kainerugaba’s rapid rise within the military has been dubbed the “Muhoozi Project” by local media since he joined the army in 1999.
