Rédaction Africa Links 24 with The Observer
Published on 2024-03-25 04:08:43
President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda recently made some changes to his cabinet, followed by the appointment of his son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, as the head of the military. This move has sparked discussions about the possibility of Muhoozi succeeding his father as president, especially considering Museveni’s longtime grip on power in the country.
Muhoozi, who is 49 years old, was appointed as the chief of defense forces, replacing General Wilson Mbusa Mbadi. Muhoozi had been away from active military command for two years prior to this appointment, as he was removed from his position as head of land forces due to controversial posts on social media.
In his previous role, Muhoozi made statements on Twitter that raised eyebrows, such as threatening to invade Nairobi, expressing support for Tigray rebels in Ethiopia, and approving of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Despite the constitutional prohibition on serving military officers engaging in political activities, Muhoozi has not shied away from expressing his political opinions and aspirations.
More recently, Muhoozi founded the Patriotic League of Uganda, which is seen as a civic organization rather than a political party to potentially avoid constitutional issues. His father, President Museveni, has long been grooming him for a future leadership position, although there is disagreement among analysts about the timing of a potential transfer of power.
Godber Tumushabe, from the Great Lakes Institute for Strategic Studies, believes that Museveni is unlikely to allow his son to assume the presidency while he is still in power. Tumushabe suggests that it would only happen if circumstances forced Museveni to step down or if he became incapacitated. Sarah Bireete, the executive director of the Center for Constitutional Governance, reveals that the ruling NRM party had tasked Museveni with addressing Muhoozi’s political future before the 2026 elections.
The appointment of Muhoozi as the head of the military suggests that Museveni, at the age of 81, intends to run for another term as president. Bireete also notes that the army, under Muhoozi’s leadership, is likely to support Museveni, raising concerns about potential human rights abuses by security forces during elections.
Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, has a history of using security forces to suppress political opposition. With another term potentially on the horizon, the conduct of the army under Muhoozi’s command will be closely scrutinized for any signs of a potential transfer of power in the future.
Overall, the appointment of Muhoozi as head of the military has raised questions about the country’s political future and the potential succession of power within the Museveni family. With Museveni’s long tenure in office and Muhoozi’s rising profile, Uganda’s political landscape is poised for significant changes in the coming years.
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