Loyalty test as Museveni’s son State House bid divides ruling party

The State House quest of General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, son of Uganda's long-ruling leader Yoweri Museveni, could divide the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) as top officials are divided between father and son in a tough loyalty test.

The decades-long NRM was on Friday having its Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting to discuss the Muhoozi-led newly formed "Patriotic League of Uganda" (PLU) party.

The internal tension in the party over the new youth initiative launched by Museveni's favourite son, who has never hidden his intention to succeed his father saw the grilling of Captain Mike Mukula, a CEC member suspected of backing Muhoozi's bid.

Muhoozi's youth wing of the party has downplayed any political intentions, insisting its focus is on civic work.

However, its formation and General Muhoozi's open bid have not assured staunch Museveni backers of its real intent.

Muhoozi's tweets on his bid have attracted controversy, creating division over some of his assertions.

Uganda's Political Analyst Tonny Tumukunde in a Nile Post article says General Muhoozi rightly proved to his army contemporaries that he is best suited to take on the opposition in Uganda.

According to him, the president's son has meticulously silenced any adverse voice of the once-called "bush generals" except a few who fear to personally speak it out but instead use other mouthpieces.

"Like father, Gen Muhoozi is still aware and alive to the vision, and aspirations of what is in the hearts of the 45 million Ugandans. This is a country full of visions," says Tumukunde.

He thinks Uganda's opposition leaders have so far communicated no clear goals except the desire to get elected and fight or remove a dictator (Museveni).

Legislator Ssemujju Nganda claims the internal tension stems from perceived party capture by President Museveni, leaving members unsure about the future. As the 2026 elections approach, the NRM grapples with potential fractures in its leadership structure.

According to insiders, the CEC meeting holds significant weight as the NRM weighs the options before them.

Muhoozi in October 2022 that he wanted to honour his mother by occupying Uganda's top seat. His decision has jolted structures in the military and the ruling party.

"The only way I can repay my great mother is by being President of Uganda! And I shall definitely do it!!" he wrote on X.

Muhoozi has two hurdles to jump over if he is to take part in the elections. First, is to get accepted into the NRM. Some NRM mobilisers are uncomfortable with his 2026 talk, insisting that he is better serving the country in the army.

Ibrahim Kitatta, an NRM mobiliser, says the declaration of Gen Muhoozi for the 2026 elections and the silence of the NRM forced them to come out and "guide the country to avoid confusion in the coming years."

"We support President Museveni as our permanent power source, but we also support Muhoozi as a standby generator, waiting to be turned on in case the main power source falters or bows out."

Mr Kitatta said Gen Muhoozi is still a member of the army, and they can only talk about his presidential ambitions when he retires from the army.

The Constitution of Uganda requires members of the UPDF to be non-partisan and subordinate to civilian authority. Therefore, Gen Muhoozi is already breaking the law, although the UPDF has been silent about it.

In May 2022, the Constitutional Court summoned Gen Muhoozi to respond to a petition in which he was accused of expressing his presidential ambitions while he was still a serving army officer, in a petition lodged by a Kampala-based lawyer Gawaya Tegulle.

"As a serving officer of the UPDF, Gen Muhoozi acted in an indiscipline manner, lacking good character, when with impunity, he breached the Code of Conduct for the defence forces," the petitioner stated, adding that the court should declare his acts unconstitutional.

According to Lt-Col Chris Magyezi, director of communications in the Land Forces, a serving officer who wishes to retire must apply, or retire upon clocking the age of retirement, or can retire on medical grounds. In this case, Gen Muhoozi has neither applied nor reached the mandatory retirement age.

According to army rules, from the rank of Lieutenant to Captain, one can apply for retirement at 40 years, while a major can leave service at 45 years.

A lieutenant colonel can retire at 47, and a colonel's retirement age is 51. The army code also specifies the years of service upon which an officer can rightly apply for retirement.