Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has publicly raised the question of his succession with senior members of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) for the first time, as concerns mount over the prospect of his son inheriting power.
The 82-year-old leader, who has ruled Uganda for four decades, discussed the politically sensitive issue during a meeting with party officials on Tuesday, according to sources cited by AFP.
Rather than naming a preferred successor, Museveni reportedly outlined the qualities required of Uganda’s next leader and urged party members to focus on the country’s future direction.
A senior NRM official, speaking anonymously, said Museveni emphasised that succession discussions should centre on advancing Uganda’s development rather than identifying a particular individual to replace him.
The meeting exposed divisions within the ruling party over the political ambitions of Museveni’s son, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who commands Uganda’s armed forces.
While some officials expressed support for Kainerugaba, others strongly opposed the idea, with approximately half of those present remaining silent, according to party insiders.
Tensions became particularly evident when senior presidential adviser Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye reportedly expressed fears for her personal safety after opposing Kainerugaba’s plans to contest the 2031 presidential election.
Namyalo told the gathering that she had been changing vehicles regularly to avoid a possible abduction, alleging that supporters of the president’s son had threatened her.
Museveni, who seized power following a guerrilla war in 1986, secured a seventh presidential term in January 2026.
Since his re-election, the veteran leader has appeared to take a less prominent public role, while his 52-year-old son has increasingly asserted his influence within Uganda’s political and military establishment.
Kainerugaba has openly declared his intention to run for president in 2031, fuelling speculation that Uganda could be heading towards a dynastic transfer of power.
His growing political influence has been accompanied by mounting criticism over the treatment of opposition figures and independent media.
In recent months, political opponents have faced detention, while Uganda’s largest independent media group was temporarily shut down for several weeks.
The army chief has also attracted controversy through inflammatory statements on social media platform X, including threats against opposition leader Bobi Wine, who has fled to the United States.
Kainerugaba has previously made public statements boasting about the mistreatment of political opponents, drawing criticism from human rights advocates.
Despite growing speculation surrounding his succession plans, Museveni has not formally announced who will replace him, leaving Uganda’s political future uncertain as rival factions within the ruling party position themselves for a potential leadership transition.
