KAMPALA, Uganda. March 22 – Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has appointed his son, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, as the new Chief of Defence Forces (CDF).
Gen Muhoozi was Senior Presidential Advisor in charge of Special Operations and takes over from Gen Wilson Mbadi who has been transferred to serve as State Minister of Trade, Industry and cooperatives.
President Museveni also appointed Lt Gen Sam Okiding as the Deputy CDF, replacing Gen Peter Elwelu who has been appointed a presidential advisor.
The UPDF Chief of Staff Land Force Maj Gen Jack Agonza Bakasumba has been promoted and appointed the Joint Chief of Staff.
Bakasumba takes over from Maj. Gen Leopold Kyanda who will serve as a defence attache in a yet-to-be-known country.
The President also promoted Special Forces commander, Brigadier David Mugisha to the rank of Major General, while the Special Forces Commando Force commander, Col Asaph Nyakikuru was also promoted from the rank of Colonel to Brigadier.
Gen Muhoozi has recently been holding rallies around the country, in violation of a law barring serving army officers from engaging in partisan politics.
Recently, for example, he launched an activist group known as the Patriotic League of Uganda which he defended as nonpartisan and aimed at encouraging patriotism among Ugandans.
Two of Muhoozi’s closest advisors have been given ministerial posts, further fueling speculation that President Museveni supports his political activities.
Currently, his allies are strategically deployed in command positions across the security services.
He joined the military in the late 1990s, and his rise to the top of the armed forces has been controversial, with critics dubbing it the “Muhoozi Project” to prepare him for the presidency.
Uganda’s next presidential election will be held in 2026.
Before Gen Muhoozi was appointed a senior presidential advisor in 2022, he was Infantry Commander.
President Museveni first took power by force in 1986 and has been elected six times. He no rivals within the ruling National Resistance Movement party.
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