Uganda's President Museveni appoints son as military chief, raising succession concerns

Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni appointed his son Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, as the top commander of the military on Thursday, sparking controversy in a country where many believe Museveni is grooming his eldest child for the presidency.

Despite a law prohibiting serving army officers from involvement in partisan politics, Kainerugaba has been conducting rallies across the country. He argues that his activities, including the establishment of the Patriotic League of Uganda, are nonpartisan and intended to foster patriotism among Ugandans.

The ministry said in a statement he replaces Wilson Mbasu Mbadi, who was removed and appointed as a junior minister. In 2022, Museveni removed his son as commander of Uganda's land forces after he made threats to invade neighbouring Kenya in posts on social media platform X.

In the posts, Kainerugaba also expressed support for Russia's President Vladimir Putin saying: "The majority of mankind (that are non-white) support Russia's stand in Ukraine."

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Kainerugaba joined the army in the late 1990s, and his rise to the top of the armed forces has been controversial, with critics dubbing it the “Muhoozi Project” to prepare him for the presidency.

Museveni and Kainerugaba have long denied the existence of such a scheme, but it appears a transition is underway as Museveni, 79, serves what could be his last term without a recognizable successor within the civilian government.

Kainerugaba has most recently been serving as a senior presidential advisor in charge of special operations after his father removed him as infantry commander in 2022. At the time, Kainerugaba was responsible for a series of offensive tweets, including an unprovoked one in which he threatened to capture the capital of neighbouring Kenya. He has previously served as the commander of an elite group of special forces protecting the first family.

With inputs from agencies.