A few days ago, Ugandan first son Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba stole media headlines when he declared his interest in becoming the country’s next president, and taking over from his father Gen Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni, the former bush commander that has ruled the nation for nearly 40 years.
The first son’s ‘announcement’ was not surprising to those who had been following the events of recent months, particularly Muhoozi’s birthday parties in which he revealed his plan for the youth. A number of people also expressed their support for him during those parties that were held across the country and included sports tournaments.
Gen Muhoozi turned 48 years in April and his father saw it fit to honour him by hosting a State House dinner for him. Rwandan President Paul Kagame was the chief guest and he gave hints on the expectations he (and Museveni) had in Muhoozi before offering free services to start editing the first son’s tweets.
Tweets have since landed Muhoozi into trouble with Kenya, prompting his father to fire him as the Commander of the Land Forces (CLF) of the national army, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF). After losing his job as CLF but gaining a promotion to a full general, the highest rank in the national army, Gen Muhoozi is now responsible for advising his father on special operations, most of them on security matters.
His firing has also given him enough time to tweet, defying his father Museveni’s orders for him to stop posting his controversial views on micro-blogging site Twitter. In one of such tweets, Muhoozi has revealed that he intends to become Uganda’s president so that he can repay his mother, First Lady Janet Kataaha Kainembabazi Museveni.
The ‘announcement’ was a complete U-turn from Muhoozi’s 2016 statement that he had no intentions of becoming Uganda’s president. Then serving as the Commander of the UPDF Special Forces Command (SFC), a unit charged with the security of the president and other members of the First Family, Muhoozi had been promoted to the rank of Major General.
At a pipping ceremony held at the Military headquarters in Mbuya, then NTV Uganda reporter Sheila Nduhukire asked him about the Muhoozi Project. First broached by former spymaster Gen David Sejusa (formerly Tinyefuuza) in 2013, the Muhoozi Project was an alleged plan by Gen Museveni to ensure that his son Muhoozi succeeds him as president. Gen Sejusa further alleged that there was a plot to eliminate government officials and military officers opposed to the Muhoozi Project.
Muhoozi replied: “It [the Muhoozi Project] doesn’t exist. It’s non-existent; that is a red herring. I do not have the ambition to be president. I am very happy being in the military and that is where I intend to stay for some time.”
In all the local and international media interviews that followed the allegations about the ‘Muhoozi Project,’ both Museveni and his son trashed the existent of such a plan, with the president insisting that Ugandans will have a chance to choose their next president after his retirement. (Here’s a report on one of such interviews: MUHOOZI PROJECT: Museveni Opens Up on ‘Grooming’ His Son Kainerugaba to Succeed Him as President).
But things started changing when Muhoozi blasted Gen Sejusa and those who coined and popularized the Muhoozi Project for wanting to destroy him, only for his generation to turn what should have been a curse into a blessing! Gen Sejusa even fumed when he was told that he would soon salute Gen Muhoozi whether he wants it or not.
And this week, Muhoozi made his ‘big announcement‘ on running for president. (See Details Here).
