By Faridah N Kulumba
Africa-Press-Uganda The president of Uganda Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s son and commander of the country’s land forces Lt-Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba (MK) towards the end of April 2022, signalled his desire to go public about his presidential ambitions when he auspiciously turned his 48th birthday celebrations into a national event. The first son’s expression of interest in succeeding his father who has been in power for more than 35 years since 1986, came after almost a decade of speculations.
Celebrations
Several festivities for the first son Muhoozi were organised countrywide starting from April to the beginning of May and the main event which was held at the State House Entebbe was grated by President Museveni and the President of Rwanda Paul Kagame who had spent years without coming to Uganda due to unknown conflicts.
Disruptions
Some of MKAt48’s birthday events led to the closure of roads, diversions and disruptions within cities which created quite a buzz in the media and were seen by many as an effort to make Gen Muhoozi popular as he prepares the ground for a shot at the 2026 general elections.
The project Speculations
The “Muhoozi Project” was coined by one Gen David Sejusa in 2013 when he revealed that President Museveni was grooming his son Muhozi to succeed him when he retires. But President Museveni and Gen Muhoozi repeatedly denied the allegation.
The revelation
After the much-hyped birthday celebrations, which included some activities like a marathon and a football match, Lt Gen Muhoozi seems to have gathered the courage to publicly express his interest in the presidency. On May 1st Gen Muhoozi via Twitter his favourite social media channel made the long-awaited announcement. “When Team MK wins power in this country, which we will, our first action will be to increase the sports budget,” Muhoozi said onTwitter adding that team MK will announce their political programme soon.
Father’s reaction
President Museveni has not yet publicly come out to announce whether his son will succeed him when he retires. But on 24 April during Gen Muhoozi’s birthday celebrations at State House, the president hinted that his son would be taking charge when he said that Gen Muhoozi “is impatient” with the corrupt people and will fight them.
Court summons
Last week on Thursday, the constitutional Court summoned the Commander of Land Forces, Muhoozi to respond to a petition in which he was accused of expressing his presidential ambitions yet he is still serving army officer. This followed one Lawyer Gawaya Tegulle petitioning the Constitutional Court challenging what he called unconstitutional acts by Gen Muhoozi of engaging in political activities and pronouncements as he celebrated his birthday despite being a serving army officer.
What does the law say?
In his petition, Mr Tegulle claimed that the act of Gen Muhoozi, dubbed MK@48, among others, include; national and district birthday celebrations, as well as political pronouncements in general and manifest presidential campaigns in particular on his Twitter, handle, @MK @mkainerugaba, is inconsistent with Article 208 (2) of the Constitution that provides that UPDF shall be non-partisan, and national in character. The petitioner added that Muhoozi as a serving officer of the Uganda People Defence Forces (UPDF) acted in an indisciplined manner, lacking good character when with impunity, breached the Code of Conduct for the defence forces.
Others sued
The Chief of Defence Forces(CDF) Wilson Mbadi was sued for his alleged failure to provide advice or warn Gen Muhoozi about the legality and untenable nature of his actions, character and conduct even when it is clear that the same is in contravention of the Constitution. And also Uganda’s Attorney General Kiwanuka Kiryowa was sued for his alleged failure to give proper legal advice and guidance to the UPDF.
Soon or Later?
It is still not clear though when Uganda’s first son Muhoozi will be likely to stand for Presidency. His father’s term in office will end in 2026, and Gen Muhoozi is still serving in Uganda’s army UPDF yet the Ugandan constitution forbids serving soldiers from participating in active politics.
According to local political analyst Profesor Ndebesa Mwambutsya, whether Gen Muhoozi retires from the army before pursuing a political carer doesn’t matter because of what he described as the discrepancy and double standards by which is currently governed. He added that Uganda operates under invisible powers, meaning that they cannot be held accountable. According to him what works in Uganda is informal, but not formal, and Muhoozi’s Project reflects that. It’s these informal spaces that will determine Uganda’s next president.
