Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni’s son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has made a commitment to combat corruption within the military following his appointment as its top commander, a move that many speculate could hasten his ascent to potentially succeed his father.
The 49-year-old Kainerugaba, son of the 79-year-old president who has governed Uganda for nearly four decades, was appointed as the country’s new Chief of Defence Forces last week.
During a formal handover ceremony, Kainerugaba expressed his determination to enhance the welfare of soldiers by tackling the scourge of corruption and the mismanagement of resources, as per a military statement.
Uganda’s military holds a significant role in regional stability, with deployments in countries like Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, aiding in the fight against Islamist insurgents.
Critics within Uganda’s opposition have alleged that Museveni is expediting his son’s military career to prepare him for a future political leadership role. However, Museveni has refuted these claims, denying any grooming of his son for the presidency.
In 2022, Kainerugaba was relieved of his duties as commander of Uganda’s land forces by Museveni after he made remarks on social media suggesting a potential invasion of neighboring Kenya. Kainerugaba later clarified that these remarks were meant as jest.
Furthermore, Kainerugaba had previously drawn attention for praising Russian President Vladimir Putin following Russia’s military actions in Ukraine.
