Uganda’s Ruling Party Rejects President Museveni’s Plan To Install Son Muhoozi As Successor
Uganda’s Ruling Party Rejects President Museveni’s Plan To Install Son Muhoozi As Successor
He has vowed to contest the 2031 presidential election, but many are uneasy over his flouting of the law and inflammatory social media posts, where he often boasts of torturing opponents in his “basement.”
The leadership of Uganda’s ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has reportedly rejected President Yoweri Museveni’s plan to name his son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, as his successor.
Five party sources told AFP on Wednesday that the NRM executive committee shot down the proposal during a closed-door meeting on Tuesday.
Kainerugaba, 52, is the head of Uganda’s army and has gained huge influence as his 82-year-old father, who has been in power since 1986, plays a declining role in governing the East African country.
He has vowed to contest the 2031 presidential election, but many are uneasy over his flouting of the law and inflammatory social media posts, where he often boasts of torturing opponents in his “basement.”
In recent months, he has reportedly jailed political rivals, threatened to behead opposition leader Bobi Wine, and forced the closure of the country’s leading independent media group for several weeks.
According to the sources, the meeting, convened to determine a successor, ended without a conclusive vote after several of the 28 members spoke against the plan and were loudly cheered.
By the time the vote was called off, four members had voted in favour of Kainerugaba while three voted against.
“The combative nature of the (army chief) has created uneasiness among some people. He is fighting and threatening people on social media. Let him start convincing people but not using coercive means to capitulate the population,” one source said.
Another participant said NRM Vice-Chairman, Calvin Echodu, urged Museveni to retire his son from the army and give him a civilian assignment to get acquainted with the population and prepare for leadership.
Echodu also reportedly advised the president to run again in 2031, saying his son “is not yet ready.”
The attendees described the development as an unprecedented show of defiance against Museveni, who first raised the issue of succession in late October by presenting a paper to party leaders suggesting that his son had the right credentials for the job.
Kainerugaba recently drew fresh attention with combative posts on X, threatening Vice President Jessica Alupo with arrest over claims that she was involved in a plot to overthrow the government.
