President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni has once again spoken out on reports that he is grooming first son and Commander Land Forces (CLF) Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba to succeed him as president.
Months ago, Museveni elevated Kainerugaba to the position of CLF, the third most important commandant role in the military.
The elevation reignited the debate on ‘Muhoozi Project.’
First openly broached by former spymaster Gen David Tinyefuuza (Sejusa), the Muhoozi Project is said to be a plan by Museveni to reportedly knock off all military and political officials opposed to the idea of first son Lt Gen Kainerugaba succeeding his father.
In 2020, Kainerugaba said that whereas some people had hoped to use the talk of Muhoozi Project against him, members of his generation were turning the rumored project into a blessing.
A group of officials in government and others outside the Museveni administration openly back the idea of Kainerugaba taking over from his father.
Museveni has ruled Uganda since 1986 when he took over following about five years of war that left hundreds of thousands of people dead in the Luwero Triangle.
In January 2021, Museveni won another five-year term at the end of which he will have ruled Uganda for four decades.
Now, Museveni has told France 24 there is no such plan to make his son succeed him.
He told Marc Perelman at State House Entebbe that those claiming that he was grooming his son to take over from him are “not serious.”
He said Ugandans have the power to choose their leaders through free and fair regular elections.
” Why should I groom my son?” wondered Museveni.
“The people of Uganda are there. They will select whom they want.”
