Anti-Muhoozi army grows 

With his every unflattering public utterance, Gen Kainerugaba Muhoozi, a fresher in politics, is pushing the ruling NRM into new territory of confrontational politics, which largely pits the old guard against the younger Turks.

The war of words has intensified in dramatic fashion lately, with each group; old or young, using highly personal terms to discredit the other. Last week, Dr Chris Baryomunsi, the minister of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), was unflinching in his condemnation of Muhoozi.

“What Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba is doing is illegal… to become political when he is a serving military officer, and I advise him to go slow on his politicking,” Dr Baryomunsi said on the NBS TV Frontline talk show last Thursday night.

Article 102 of the Constitution of Uganda stipulates that a person is qualified for election as president if he is a citizen of Uganda by birth; a registered voter; completed a minimum level of formal education of Advanced Level standard or its equivalent.

The UPDF Act, however, bars active-duty officers from participating in politics. Muhoozi must resign if he wants to run for president. Section 66 (1) of the UPDF Act stipulates that an officer may in writing tender the resignation of his or her commission to the Board.

The board notifies the officer of its decision on his or her application to resign his or her commission within 90 days after receipt of his or her application, and the approval of an application to resign the commission shall not be unreasonably withheld.

To counter Muhoozi and his legion of young supporters, the old guard is coalescing around Maj Gen Kahinda Otafiire. Otafiire, who is listed in the UPDF Act of 2005 as one of the 15 senior army officers in the country, is dueling with the first son and presidential advisor on Special Operations.

While attending a wedding in Ruhinda county, which he represents in parliament, recently, Otafiire urged Ugandans to support President Museveni’s re-election in 2026.

“I want to make one request. In the coming days, I want you to vote for President Museveni and ignore this talk of having a standby generator [Muhoozi Kainerugaba]. This standby generator is spoiled. Why should you use a standby generator when you have electricity?” Otafiire asked.

The term “standby generator” refers to Muhoozi and was coined by his supporter Balaam Barugahara. Balaam claims that should the president run out of steam, Muhoozi is the shoe-in replacement. Otafiire didn’t answer our repeated calls for an interview.

Muhoozi has since responded to Otafiire’s statement, writing in a tweet dated January 3, 2023, “Otafiire calls us ‘mad’ people because we dare to ask questions that even children understand.” Let us teach Otafiire and his group that their time is absolutely over.

Muhoozi’s tweet has since drawn frenzied comments from his legion of supporters. Balaam Barugahara said; “Minister Otafiire, please don’t undermine our generator. It will be a reliable power source in the near future after the father of the nation, President Yoweri Museveni. Every human being has a life span, so nobody will live on earth forever. Let us have our stand-by generator, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba in God we Trust,”

Interviewed by The Observer recently, Balaam said, “General Otafiire, what really offends you about Gen. Muhoozi? Are you offended by the young people he raises?

Or are you offended because those issues were raised by the first son? The latter seems to bother you more than anything else. Respecting you does not mean accepting your bullying. We respect him as one of the revolutionaries, our father, and as one of the people who went to the bush with our father, but it has become too much to attack (sic) our generational leader, Gen. Muhoozi.”

“I’ve always wanted to ask Otafiire that question on behalf of Gen Muhoozi. I asked Michael Maranga Mawanda (his handler) to fix an appointment for me so that I ask him that question. Other generals, like Salim Saleh, always tell us that what we are doing is good. He gives the right information, and he shares the ‘Musevenomics’ of getting people out of poverty. He never attacks but guides us,” he said.

Balaam said anyone who attacks Muhoozi, attacks his legion of supporters, including President Museveni.

“When you love Muhoozi, then you love Museveni. You can’t say that you love one and hate the other,” he said.

TIMES HAVE CHANGED

He said the time has come for the old guard to understand that times have really changed. Muhoozi is being fronted by people who have never been in politics.

“We need continuity, when Museveni says he is tired, we should have an option. If they think that they have a better option, let them present their candidate, because they can’t claim to represent Museveni, yet he is our father. Museveni is not a machine. Even machines are replaced or break down. If they break down, what stops Museveni from breaking down?” he said.

Museveni, 78, has ruled since 1986. In 2026, he will be 82 years old.

“We are not about to give up any time soon. We are not going to cry, and we are not mad, as he said; we are knowledgeable, and very intelligent. If he believes we are wrong, he should offer to run for president. Is he not educated? He is a lawyer. Is he not an adult? Yes, he is. Is he not a military man? Yes, he is. Does he have experience? Yes, he does. If he thinks that Muhoozi is not a stand-by generator, let him bring his performing batteries and we will show him,” he said.

He said Museveni has not spoken out about his replacement.

“We are not pushing him, but Museveni has done enough, and he has served enough, but we remind him that we have an alternative in case he is tired,” he said.

“NRM leaders should know that Muhoozi is not fighting them. He wants them to work for the common man, especially the young generation, who need to be empowered,” he said.

Responding to Balaam’s comments, Dan Wandera Ogalo said; “If you [Gen Muhoozi and his group] were good children, they would have started by going to the old men and telling them about their ambitions. Without them, you wouldn’t be where you are today. Instead, you attack their party, call them opportunists protecting their jobs, etc. Now you are feeling the heat.”

A section of NRM legislators from the Rwenzori and Tooro sub-regions have asked their regional party members to desist from talking against General Muhoozi Kainerugaba and focus on the future.

Interviewed for this story, Fort Portal Central MP Alex Ruhunda, a supporter of Muhoozi, said, we are not forcing anybody out of power; what we are doing is simply creating an alternative that is more friendly to the existing system because if that doesn’t happen, then, the existing system can destroy us. He said the old guard has nothing to lose because they have stayed for over 35 years.

“What we need to do is negotiate with them, make them understand that it is important to have a peaceful transition. There must be a system that guarantees continuity. Ugandans should wake up and start thinking soberly. Hatred is not going to help us because Uganda is a country that is here to stay. We don’t want to create scenarios like in Somalia, South Sudan, or Libya,” he said.

“Uganda has been providing security to most of the countries in the region. Imagine if it plunges into turmoil, what will happen to the whole region? So, we cannot make a mistake. We must think through the processes that will bring change, stability, and continuity, not necessarily continuity of the same system but continuity of the governance of the nation because even when you get Gen Muhoozi into power, it doesn’t mean that he is going to work with the old government; he must get people to work with and move on,” he said.

Muhoozi joined the army in 1999 and rose through the ranks to full general. He served as commander of the Special Forces Command (SFC) from 2008 to 2017 and was reappointed in December 2020 to December 2021. He also served as commander of the Land Forces from June 24, 2021, to October 4, 2022, when he was relieved of his duties and replaced by Lt Gen Kayanja Muhanga.

NRM SPEAKS

Last year, senior members of the ruling NRM appealed to their leaders on the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC), the highest decision-making party organ, to nudge the president and chairman of the party to convene a joint dialogue to address succession fever and early campaigns.

The continued open campaigns and endorsement crusades staged by different supporters of Muhoozi and Museveni have rattled many senior cadres. Interviewed last year, Richard Todwong, the NRM secretary general, said he received complaints from loyal NRM cadres. He said CEC is in constant touch with the party chairman. He said the president is aware of everything on the ground.

Todwong, however, advised those involved in early campaigns to focus on improving service delivery instead of acting like they are decision-makers in the party.

“It’s just one year in office, and it’s not yet time for any candidate and their teams to campaign. I am working hard to resolve any confusion in the party and as of now,

I have embarked on organizing the different groups involved in early presidential campaigns,” he said, adding, “I am guiding them on how they can have a common goal of helping out the party to deliver quality service to the people.”

Interviewed separately by local media, Singh Katongole, the CEC member for the Kampala region, said the committee members are waiting for the party chairman to call a meeting to address the many challenges in the party.

SPLITTING THE PARTY

Singh believes the numerous unauthorized NRM political gatherings that are loudly endorsing different candidates are splitting the party. Interviewed, another CEC member who declined to be named, said, “We don’t know whether he [Museveni] is behind those people who are campaigning for his son, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, to run in 2026. They are disorganizing our party plans.

“They carry themselves like they are above everyone; so, we want the chairperson to guide us.”
“Putting the Muhoozi project aside, there are people campaigning for President Museveni to stand in 2026, and that is why they want something done to avoid bloodshed when both sides clash and fight,” the source said.

The source said some CEC members are very bitter with the national NRM vice chairperson, Al-Hajji Moses Kigongo, who defied the no-early-campaigns order issued last year by party Secretary General, Richard Todwong. The source said Kigongo signed a petition endorsing a presidential run for Museveni in 2026.

Godfrey Kiwanda Suubi, the CEC vice chairman for the central region, said the committee is waiting for the president to speak out. Kiwanda said CEC doesn’t have any problem with Muhoozi’s endorsement campaigns because he is not a member of the ruling NRM and cannot run for president because he is still an active soldier.

“If people who are pushing the Muhoozi presidency are also NRM, that’s not the problem. I believe they have seen an extension of Museveni’s legacy through supporting his son.

“And if their operations are outside the party structures, then there should be no worry that their activities will disrupt NRM party activities,” Kiwanda said.

Kiwanda said Kigongo didn’t commit any crime in signing a petition supporting Museveni’s candidacy since he is above the secretary general’s orders.

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