NO WAY! Museveni Smartly ‘Pauses’ Muhoozi 2026 Presidential Ambition

Ugandan President Gen Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni seemed to have paused his son’s 2026 presidential ambitions after Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s MK Movement became the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), a civic organization registered with the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) – and not a political party registered with the Electoral Commission (EC).

Gen Muhoozi had been widely expected to enter 2024 with big announcements such on his retirement from the national army, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), the formation of a political party and a roadmap for the establishment of party structures.

But the first son, who is also his father’s senior advisor on special operations, announced that his political movement had morphed into PLU a civic organization.

The declaration was silent on Muhoozi’s 2026 presidential ambitions.

PATRIOTIC LEAGUE OF UGANDA (PLU) PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS the MK Movement started in April 2022 as a spontaneous and diverse group of Ugandans that rallied around Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba to appreciate his military service, and the service of his army comrades, to the Republic of Uganda.

AND WHEREAS over the past 17 months, the MK Movement has remained engaged and active in mobilising Ugandans toward the goal of national unity, peace and stability.

AND WHEREAS national unity, peace and stability can only be achieved by a patriotic citizenry that are mobilised, organized and empowered to fulfil their role in building sustainable foundations for the independence, sovereignty, and socio-economic development of their fatherland.

AND WHEREAS in the exercise and enjoyment of rights by citizens, scant attention has been paid to the inseparable duties and obligations of citizens, particularly the duty to be patriotic and loyal to Uganda and to promote it’s wellbeing.

NOW THEREFORE, we the MK Movement HEREBY PROCLAIM the  aforementioned objects to be a manifest precondition for the independence, sovereignty and development of Uganda; and in furtherance of the aforementioned objects, we HEREBY CONSTITUTE ourselves into a civic organization and ASSUME AND ADOPT a new name and identity, the PATRIOTIC LEAGUE OF UGANDA, with the aim of working towards reviving in Ugandans a spirit of good citizenship, national pride, national service, protection of vulnerable persons, combating corruption and wastage of public resources, and protection of the environment.

WE UNDERTAKE that the PATRIOTIC LEAGUE OF UGANDA will contribute, in a civil capacity, towards mobilizing Ugandans to fulfil their civic duties (mentioned above) as citizens of this land, for the benefit of society as a whole and to jealously guard the unique natural and social harmony that makes Uganda.

WE COMMIT to ensure that the PATRIOTIC LEAGUE OF UGANDA’S efforts toward reviving patriotism will remain non-partisan, non-denominational and non-sectarian. 

Dated this 7^th day of February, in the year of our Lord 2024.

MUSEVENI’S NRM QUICK RESPONSE

President Museveni’s ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) quickly made it clear that the 79-year-old long serving leader would be the party’s presidential candidate in 2026.

Speaking during an event to mark the NRM Day in Serere District at the weekend, the party secretary general Richard Todwong said Museveni would be on the ballot paper in 2026.

“[Museveni] will be our flag bearer come 2026 and he is ready to serve the country,” said Todwong.

He further described the group promoting Muhoozi’s political ambitions and other supporting his father as “tributaries to take water to the main river.” He further described the disagreements between supporters of Museveni and Muhoozi as illogical and just being motivated by “fights for positions and limited opportunities we have.”

Museveni has previously warned Muhoozi against serious individuals pushing for his 2026 presidential candidature.

“You remember when he celebrated his 48^th birthday, there was some enthusiasm by some of the youths. When I analyzed it, I could see that it was because of weakness of our system. I could see it was sort of a resistance movement within the resistance movement,” said Museveni last year.

“Of course some of the things Muhoozi doesn’t know is that some of them are looking for their own interests. Some are looking for this, some are looking for that,” Museveni said. “Some of the frustrated youths go to that group [MK Movement] thinking that there is hope.”

The people who have been around Muhoozi in the MK Movement have crossed to the PLU with him.

TOP PLU LEADERSHIP

1. General Muhoozi Kainerugaba: Chairman

2. Dr Balaam Barugahara: Vice Chairman Western Region

3. Michael Nuwagira Toyota: CC member

4. Frank Gashumba: Vice Chairman Central Region.

5. Andrew Mwenda: Spokesperson

6. Katungi Michael: Commissioner External Relations.

7. Hon. Michael Mawanda: CC Member

8. Hon. Lillian Aber: Vice Chairperson Northern Region

9. David Kabanda: Deputy Spokesperson

10. Hon. Peter Ogwang: Coordinator Teso

11. Hon. Haruna Kasolo: Coordinator Greater Maska

12. Hon. Twalla Fadil: Coordinator Sebei

13. Nzeire Shadrack: Coordinator Ankole

14. Judith Mukidi: Women Representative, Tooro

15. Sarah Kiyimba: Women Representative, Greater Masaka.

16. Tamale Mirundi: Deputy Spokesperson Buganda.

PAUSED MUHOOZI 2026 AMBITION

Last year, Muhoozi told his father he was tired of waiting forever, telling Museveni to leave power so he can take over in a succession (not a transition really) that would see son take over from father. (See Details Here).

But now, after Muhoozi launched PLU, a civic organization, it seems that the game plan could have shifted from 2026 to 2031.

There are some pointers to this. Muhoozi has previously announced retiring from the army, only for him to eat his words and push his retirement year to 2030. (See Details Here).

Justice Minister Norbert Mao has also previously claimed that Museveni has agreed to peacefully hand over power in 2031 – a claim that Museveni later trashed pointing to a Museveni-Mao deal that could have started to go bad. (Read Details Here and There).

MK Movement and PLU spokesperson Andrew Mwenda has previously said that Museveni will be on the ballot paper in 2026 and 2031 – as long as he is not dead. (See Details Here).

But while it seems like Museveni has successfully managed to convince or compel his son to formalize his movement and make it a civic organization, it looks like Muhoozi’s ambition has been paused for a few years.

As we have reported before, Muhoozi is one of the four First Family members who are either reportedly interested in or capable of succeeding Museveni when he retires. (Read Story Here).