According to the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party, President Museveni is reportedly putting the finishing touches on his son, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who would take over as the nation’s future leader.
The President simultaneously and widely changed the senior army leadership and made minor changes to the Cabinet, which some argue were intended to push the younger General even closer to the presidency.
After being promoted to Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi became the latest in a well-planned, albeit unannounced, scheme to get him inside the State House, according to some political observers.
But Friday night, a State House official swiftly knocked off the allegation, insisting there was nothing sinister about the selections.
As an adult Ugandan with all the required qualifications, the young general would theoretically have no obstacles to running for government after leaving the army.
Serving military officers are currently prohibited from holding political office under the Ugandan Constitution and army law, but Muhoozi’s political actions continue to put these legal protections to the test.
The FDC said there are signs Gen Muhoozi is being prepared for bigger things even when he is still a member of the armed forces.
The FDC Statement
Last week, Mr Museveni made a few changes in his cabinet and within the army, appointing his son as the Chief of Defence Force (CDF) and relocating Gen. Mbandi from his position at the helm of UPDF to the Ministry of Trade.
In the FDC, we view the promotion of Mr Museveni’s son to CDF and the appointment of Patriotic League of Uganda promoters to key ministerial positions as indicative that the succession plan from Mr Museveni to his son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, is taking shape.
Uganda now operates under a family rule, with Yoweri Museveni as president, his wife Janet Kataha Museveni as Minister of Education, his younger brother Salim Saleh as senior presidential advisor on military matters, his son-in-law Odrek Rwabogo as Special Presidential Advisor, and now his son, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, as Chief of Defence Forces.
It is evident that significant strategic decisions for the country are being made within the family meeting.
The FDC is also alarmed by Mr Museveni’s ongoing reduction of cabinet influence, demonstrated by the retention of positions for his allies and the introduction of new members, dubbed “bavubi,” for his son.
This bloated cabinet burdens the taxpayer and fails to deliver tangible benefits to Ugandans, rendering its relevance questionable.
Some members have been implicated in criminal activities, such as the theft of iron sheets, with only a few being relieved of their duties while others remain in cabinet despite their involvement.
If the intention was to combat corruption, all individuals implicated in the iron sheet scandal should have faced consequences.
Furthermore, the cabinet reshuffle dispels the false narrative propagated by our colleagues at Katonga that the FDC leadership colluded with the NRM.
The absence of any appointed FDC officials in the cabinet reaffirms that our party has no cooperation agreement with NRM or President Museveni.
Additionally, if such collusion had occurred, Mr Museveni’s influence would have aided the FDC in rigging the Dokolo by-election in our favour.
