Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, has hit fresh political resistance after senior members of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) reportedly opposed a plan to groom him as the country’s next leader.
Five party sources told AFP that a vote on Muhoozi’s candidacy was abandoned midway, with four members backing him and three opposing before the exercise was halted.
One participant said some members are uneasy about the army chief’s combative style and his threats against people on social media, and that he should win people over without coercion.
The meeting followed a paper Museveni presented to senior party officials in late October, suggesting that his son had the credentials to succeed him despite concerns about his conduct and public statements.
The setback comes days after Muhoozi announced plans to leave his post as Chief of Defence Forces. On November 6, he said his time in the office was ending and that he would hand over to a qualified officer in a few months, adding that he would dedicate his life to Christ afterwards. The 52-year-old has already declared his intention to run for president in 2031, with backing from his father’s allies, including the Patriotic League of Uganda.
Museveni, 82, has ruled Uganda since 1986, so any change in leadership is of keen interest to neighbouring states, including Kenya.
Uganda is Kenya’s largest export destination in the East African Community, with trade valued at about KSh 126 billion, according to the State Department for East African Community Affairs.
The two countries signed eight cooperation agreements in July 2025, adding to 17 existing arrangements, and hold regular defence talks on terrorism, cross-border crime and intelligence sharing.
Muhoozi has also drawn attention in recent days with posts on X threatening Vice President Jessica Alupo with arrest over claims that she was involved in a plot to overthrow the government.
Source; https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CtWsFsot4/
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