Uganda’s long-serving president appoints son as top army commander

By Hassan Isilow

Uganda’s long-time President Yoweri Museveni has appointed his son, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, as the new chief of defense forces (CDF), replacing Gen. Wilson Mbadi in a reshuffle announced Thursday night.

Experts are speculating that the move by the 79-year-old leader in power since 1986 could be aimed at grooming his eldest son to take over from him as president when he retires from politics.

Kainerugaba, 49, has been serving as his father’s senior advisor in charge of special operations. He has been the leader of the MK Movement, a pressure group that wants to see him replace his father in the 2026 elections.

Kainerugaba, a graduate of political science from Nottingham University, has also attended some of the best military colleges in the world, including the US Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth in Kansas.

He has recently held rallies across Uganda mobilizing support for his MK Movement, now known as the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU). Kainerugaba has served in several army positions in Uganda and also helped found the Special Forces Military Unit said to be loyal to his family.

Two of Kainerugaba’s close associates in the Patriotic League of Uganda were also appointed by Museveni in a ministerial Cabinet reshuffle on Thursday night.