Uganda's ruling party has dealt a fresh blow to General Muhoozi Kainerugaba. Senior members of the National Resistance Movement reportedly opposed a plan to position him as the next national leader. The pushback came during a closed-door executive committee meeting on Tuesday.
The meeting was called to discuss the succession of President Yoweri Museveni. Five party sources told AFP that a vote on Muhoozi's candidacy was abandoned. Four members backed him while three stood against him before the exercise was stopped.
One participant said the army chief's combative nature had made some people uneasy. According to the source he threatens people on social media. The participant said he should first convince people instead of using coercion.
The vote followed a paper Museveni presented to senior party officials in late October. It suggested that his son had the credentials to succeed him despite concerns over his conduct and public statements.
The setback comes days after Muhoozi announced he would 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. He is 52 and has already declared that he will contest the presidency in 2031.
Museveni is 82 and has ruled Uganda since 1986. Any change in leadership matters to neighbours such as Kenya. Uganda is Kenya's largest export destination in the East African Community with trade worth about Ksh126 billion.
Muhoozi has also stirred controversy online in recent days. He used X to threaten Vice President Jessica Alupo with arrest over claims that she was involved in a plot to overthrow the government. The succession debate is now far from settled.
https://x.com/kenyans/status/2120768215114539083?s=46
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