Muhoozi Takes Over, Vows Crackdown On Graft in Uganda Military

The son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has pledged to fight corruption in the military after taking over as its top commander. 

The move widely expected to accelerate his rise to eventually succeed his father.

Museveni, 79, who has led Uganda for 38 years, named 49-year-old son Muhoozi Kainerugaba as the East African country’s new Chief of Defence Forces last week.

In a formal handover ceremony on Thursday, Muhoozi “vowed to improve the welfare of soldiers by fighting the evil of corruption and mismanagement of resources”, according to a statement released by the military.

Uganda’s military plays a significant role in regional peace and has contingents deployed in Somalia and Democratic Republic of Congo where troops are helping battle Islamist insurgents.

Uganda’s opposition has accused Museveni of fast-tracking his son’s military career to prepare him to take political power. Museveni has denied grooming him for the presidency.

In 2022, Museveni removed Muhoozi from his post as commander of Uganda’s land forces after he made threats to invade neighbouring Kenya in posts on social media platform X.

Muhoozi, who also praised Russian President Vladimir Putin after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, later said the threats were a joke.

Furthermore, the newly appointed chief underscored his determination to uphold the professionalism and moral integrity of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), affirming its role in ensuring comprehensive national security.

Gen. Muhoozi’s tenure as chief unfolds against a backdrop of multifaceted challenges, including combating ADF terrorists, addressing cattle rustling in the Karamoja sub-region in the northeast, and confronting the threat of cyberterrorism.

Despite these challenges, Gen. Muhoozi remains resolute in his commitment to address not only military concerns but also the broader spectrum of security threats. He pledged to continue efforts to enhance non-military aspects of security, encompassing environmental, cyber, and political dimensions.