Just hours after Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni made minor cabinet changes, he also appointed his son Muhuzi Kenerugaba as head of the military. Analysts said the appointment puts Museveni’s son on track to become president, but only if Museveni, who has been in power for nearly four decades, cannot stay in power.
Museveni’s son, commonly known as Muhoozi, was appointed defense minister late Thursday, replacing General Wilson Mbusa Mbadi, who was appointed deputy trade minister.
Muhouzi, 49, has been away from active military command for two years. He was sacked from his previous post as army chief over controversial posts on Twitter, now known as “X”.
In multiple tweets, he has threatened to invade and occupy Nairobi within two weeks, expressed support for Tigray rebels fighting the Ethiopian government, and expressed support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Under the Ugandan constitution, serving military officers are prohibited from participating in political activities. But Muhouzi ignored this and not only expressed his views, but also made his political ambitions public.
Recently, Muhoozi formed the Uganda Patriotic Union. The group is considered a citizens’ organization rather than a political party to potentially sidestep any constitutional issues.
Museveni has been grooming his son for the presidency for years — although Godber Tumushabe, the director of the Great Lakes Institute for Strategic Studies, does not believe a transfer of power is imminent.
“[O]I have to realize that Museveni is a president for life. I don’t think Museveni would have allowed his son to become president while he was still alive. This can only happen if God calls him or if he has become incapable of serving as president. ” Tumushabe said.
Sarah Bireete, executive director of the non-profit Center for Constitutional Governance, said the ruling NRM party’s central executive committee tasked Museveni with resolving Muhoozi’s political future before the 2026 elections.
Thursday’s move signals that Museveni, 81, plans to run for re-election as president. Birit said it also showed that Muhouzi-led troops would side with him.
“They are known to violate human rights during elections,” Birit said. “The incident of extrajudicial killings in Kampala has not been resolved and the army was involved. So we expect that the technical head of the army who is now in the name of the Defense Forces (CDF) has clear political ambitions and clear partisan leanings towards his father or himself , we hope his use of the military will be more visible.”
Since taking power in 1986, Museveni has often used security forces to suppress political opposition.
Analysts say that assuming Museveni is re-elected in two years, the conduct of the military will be closely scrutinized, with observers watching closely for signs of a transfer of power.
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