Uganda’s President Gen Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of armed forces, has met top UPDF chiefs over reports that there is anger within the national army over first son Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s rumored presidential ambitions.
The meeting of UPDF Service Chiefs which happened at 401 Brigade Headquarters in Irenga, Ntungamo District, on June 26, came days after Deputy Chief of Defence Forces (D-CDF) Lt Gen Peter Elwelu issued an alert putting all officers on standby Class One, which is the highest level of readiness for combat operations.
The meeting in Ntungamo also happened amidst rumors that there was a looming crisis with in the national army over first son Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s rumored presidential interests.
“Army fed up with MK’s birthday events and his openly voicing presidential ambitions, against army rules. M7, as a result, orders MK not to attend the Kiruhura birthday rally, but anger in the army remains high. A week later, the army is put on the highest level of alertness,” claimed researcher and political analyst Timothy Kalyegira in a June 25 tweet.
“I don’t know if we should worry, but what I can tell you who are reading this is that inside the army, the mood/morale is like what it was in the UNLA around early 1984. Not yet an all-out crisis, but certainly no longer the familiar, calm normal. You can quote me on that.”
Meanwhile, Muhoozi has also warned those plotting to create a rift between him and his father Museveni. He also talked of a “coming battle.”
“Those who try to come between my father and me will learn a very bitter lesson. Where were they when we were refugees? Tutawona wale Mungu anapenda!” tweeted Lt Gen Kainerugaba.
“In the coming battle, let the people of Uganda and Rwanda support me… like I have fought for them. Let us deal with the traitors once and for all!”
Museveni did not divulge details of the meeting in Ntungamo. But the first son, who is also the Commander of UPDF Land Forces, and the president’s senior advisor on special operations, was in attendance — and so was Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen Wilson Mbasu Mbadi and his deputy Lt Gen Peter Elwelu.
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