Opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye has castigated first son Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba for doing whatever he does and for saying whatever he says with impunity.
Besigye also reiterated his claims that Lt Gen Kainerugaba, currently serving as the Commander of UPDF Land Forces, was irregularly recruited in the country’s national army, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).
A four-time presidential candidate and former National Resistance Army (NRA) bush war comrade of President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni, Besigye also noted that Muhoozi’s rise was as a result of the criminality of the Ugandan state under Gen Museveni.
“Muhoozi is enjoying the criminality of the state. Muhoozi joined the military illegally. I have stated this a million times. The law spells out how an officer of the UPDF. He did not go through the steps [he needed to go through] to become an officer of the UPDF. He has been promoted illegally,” Besigye told KFM Hot Seat on May 16.
“He does everything he does illegally, and all the statements he is making, it is all impunity.”
In late April and early May 2022, Lt Gen Kainerugaba, who also advises his father on special operations, celebrated his 48th birthday by holding parties across the country. During these celebrations, Muhoozi made political statements.
He has also continued to make political statements through his Twitter account, including his possible 2026 presidential run. Besigye’s deputy at People’s Front for Transition (PFT) Erias Lukwago recently described Muhoozi as a reckless general who has nothing but a birth certificate showing that Museveni is his father. (Read Story Here).
Muhoozi has also recently been involved in a war of words with Maj Gen (Rtd) Gregg Mugisha Muntu, a former army commander who is now the leader of opposition Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), especially after the ex-UPDF chief advised him to ask Museveni to retire him so that he (Muhoozi) can pursue his 2026 presidential agenda. Muhoozi fired back telling Maj Gen Muntu that it was a big mistake for Museveni to appoint him (Muntu), a sober non-performer who should have been in the seminary or the church choir and not in the army. Muntu has also hit back at Muhoozi, telling him to sober up. (Read Story Here).