Ugandan President Museveni promotes son to military chief

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After being in energy for 38 years, the veteran chief has no rival, main many to consider he’s grooming his son for the highest submit.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has promoted his son to military chief of workers, elevating issues that he’s grooming his eldest little one for the presidency.

The Ministry of Protection and Veterans Affairs introduced late Thursday that Normal Muhoozi Kainrugaba had been appointed Chief of Protection Forces, capping his speedy development via the Ugandan military ranks for the reason that late Nineties.

The veteran chief's transfer sparked hypothesis that he was grooming his 49-year-old son to succeed him as president. In a now-deleted submit on X final 12 months, Kainrugaba stated he supposed to run for president within the 2026 elections, though he additionally reportedly denied claims he was eyeing the highest job Has occurred.

Not too long ago, the President's son has been holding rallies throughout the nation in violation of the regulation barring serving army officers from participating in partisan politics. However Kainerugaba says his actions, together with the launch of the activist group Patriotic League of Uganda, are non-partisan.

'Muhoozi Challenge'

Museveni, 79, first took energy by pressure in 1986 and has since been elected six instances. He has no rivals inside the ruling Nationwide Resistance Motion get together, main many to consider the army will play a task in selecting his successor.

Kainrugaba's supporters say he gives a possibility for a peaceable switch of energy within the former British colony, probably the primary since independence in 1962. Critics say his rise is pushing the East African nation towards hereditary rule.

Kainrugaba joined the military within the late Nineties, his fast rise via the ranks being dubbed the “Muhoozi Challenge”. Each Museveni and Kainerugaba have denied the existence of any plans to raise him to the presidency, however his appointment to the submit of military chief together with the ministerial reshuffle means that change could also be on the best way.

To many Ugandans, Kainrugaba's standing as inheritor obvious has lengthy been clear, however the authorities has up to now taken a hardline stance towards anybody discussing the matter.

In 2013, police shut down two impartial newspapers and two radio stations for 10 days after they printed a leaked confidential memo by a senior common alleging that Museveni was appointing Kanerugaba as his successor. Have been getting ready.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni's son, Major General Muhoozi Kainrugaba (left) and his wife Charlotte Kutesa Kainrugaba (right) attend a ceremony at the country's military headquarters in Kampala on May 25, 2016, in which Kainrugaba was promoted from brigadier to major general. Was promoted as.
Muhoozi Kainirugaba, left, and his spouse Charlotte Kutesa Kainirugaba attend a ceremony on the army headquarters in Kampala, Uganda, on Could 25, 2016, at which he was promoted from brigadier to common (Peter Busomoke/AFP)

As a high-ranking army officer, Kainrugaba is barred from talking publicly about political issues, however he typically will get concerned in controversial discussions, inflicting diplomatic complications for Uganda.

He beforehand served as Commander of the Land Forces, however was faraway from the submit after threatening to invade neighboring Kenya, which he later described as a joke.

Museveni, who apologized to Kenya over the outrage, however defended his solely son as a “superb common” and promoted him to that submit simply days after the controversy started.

Final 12 months, Kainrugaba introduced that Uganda would “ship troops to defend Moscow if there may be ever a menace from the imperialists”, chiding Western nations for sharing “ineffective pro-Ukraine propaganda”.

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