First Son Muhoozi Kainerugaba has for the first time broken his silence on the succession debate, and denied allegations that his rise and key placement in the military command is a ploy to sidestep the law and have him replace his father as president.
“Uganda is not a monarchy where leadership is passed on from father to son. This so-called (Muhoozi) project is a people’s creation,” the Brigadier said in a statement released by Special Forces Spokesman Edson Kwesiga.
Brig Muhoozi, 39, is a one-star general and commands the 10,000-strong Special Forces Command, considered the engine of the Ugandan army, and responsible for guarding the President plus the country’s most-sensitive assets, including the oil fields.
Capt Kwesiga yesterday told the Daily Monitor that he posted the comments on Facebook because of sustained debate on the social media about public perceptions of possible transfer of power from President Museveni to Brigadier Muhoozi — and questions why the First Son was hesitant to pronounce himself on the matter.
In the statement, Brig Muhoozi appears to question why he was being sucked into the succession debate when he has “not declared that he wants to stand for President”. “The power to choose how Uganda is governed lies with Ugandans and not a single individual (President Museveni) as some people would want us to believe,” Capt Kwesiga said.
