LIST: Muhoozi Fires Kabanda as PLU Secretary General. See List of New PLU CEC Members

Kampala, Uganda — In a rapid sequence of posts published Monday morning on X, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Chief of Defence Forces and political leader of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), announced a sweeping reorganisation of the group’s leadership, removing Hon. David Kabanda from his position as Secretary General and unveiling a new Central Executive Committee (CEC) lineup.

The announcements, issued within minutes of each other, laid out a tightly controlled restructuring that simultaneously elevated new figures, retained key allies, and reinforced Muhoozi’s direct oversight over PLU’s strategic direction.

The leadership overhaul, communicated entirely through Muhoozi’s verified X account, marks one of the most significant internal resets within PLU since its transformation into a national-level political mobilisation platform aligned with the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).

“The new General Secretary of PLU is Hon. Fadil Twalla”

In the earliest of the posts, Muhoozi confirmed that Hon. Fadil Twalla had been appointed as the new Secretary General, replacing Kabanda, while thanking him for what he described as “3 years of excellent service.”

“The new General Secretary of PLU is Hon. Fadil Twalla. I will work closely with him to achieve our objectives. I thank Hon. Kabanda for his 3 years of excellent service. He set the standard high for the position,” Muhoozi wrote.

The message was immediately followed by instructions for an organised transition ceremony.

“The National Vice Chairperson of PLU, Mr. Michael Nuwagira, is hereby instructed to organise the handover/takeover ceremony of the position of General Secretary of PLU as soon as possible. From Hon. Kabanda to Hon. Fadil. All PLU Ministers and Members of Parliament must attend.”

Kabanda, a long-serving political operative within PLU structures and a Member of Parliament, was later clarified to remain within the organisation’s broader leadership framework.

“Hon. Kabanda is retained as a member of the Central Committee,” Muhoozi posted shortly after announcing his replacement.

Retained Power Brokers and Core Allies

Despite the shake-up at the top of the secretariat, Muhoozi retained several influential figures within PLU’s Central Committee, signalling continuity alongside change.

“I am retaining Michael Nuwagira, Edwin Karugire, Hon.Michael Mawanda and Andrew Mwenda on the Central Committee of PLU. The rest will be announced soon,” he wrote.

The retained figures represent a blend of political operators, media voices, and organisational mobilisers who have played visible roles in PLU’s expansion over recent years.

Michael Nuwagira, often seen as one of the key internal organisers, was also tasked with managing the leadership transition ceremony, underscoring his operational importance within the structure.

New Central Committee Appointments

Muhoozi also confirmed a fresh wave of Central Committee appointments, bringing in senior government officials, legal figures, media personalities, and politically connected operatives.

“Hon. Frank Tumwebaze, Hon. Kiryowa Kiwanuka, Mr. Hussein Kashillingi and Mr. Alan Kasujja are appointed members of the Central Committee,” he announced.

He further added a symbolic representative for historical military figures:

“Mr. Kwame Ruyondo appointed Central Committee representative for NRA historicals.”

The inclusion of both serving ministers and influential public commentators reflects PLU’s continued blending of formal state actors with political and communications figures.

Regional Leadership Confirmed

The restructuring also reaffirmed regional leadership positions within the organisation.

“Hon. Balaam Barugahara retains his position as Vice Chairman Western Region,” Muhoozi stated.

“Hon. Kiryowa is also appointed Vice Chairman for Buganda.”

These appointments suggest PLU’s continued emphasis on regional mobilisation structures, which have been central to its expansion strategy across Uganda’s political landscape.

A Centralised Political Vision

Beyond personnel changes, Muhoozi used the announcements to restate PLU’s broader political and economic agenda, framing the organisation as a driver of national development aligned with President Yoweri Museveni’s long-term goals.

“Our task as PLU is to achieve Mzee’s target of a 500 billion dollar GDP by 2031! I will supervise ALL government departments to achieve that goal,” he wrote.

The statement reflects PLU’s increasingly assertive positioning within Uganda’s political architecture, with Muhoozi portraying the group not only as a mobilisation platform but also as an actor in government performance oversight.

He further emphasised alignment with the ruling party and grassroots mobilisation strategy:

“PLU’s strategic alliance with NRM is based on achieving results for our people. Our members in the cabinet and parliament must follow the President’s instructions to return to the grassroots and effectively monitor government programmes.”

Kabanda’s Exit and Internal Realignment

While Kabanda’s removal from the Secretary General role marks a notable shift, his retention on the Central Committee suggests a managed transition rather than a complete political displacement.

Kabanda’s tenure had placed him at the centre of PLU’s organisational expansion, messaging coordination, and internal political negotiations. His replacement by Twalla signals a shift toward a new administrative direction under closer oversight from Muhoozi’s inner circle.

Continuity Amid Change

The broader restructuring illustrates PLU’s dual character as both a political mobilisation structure and a tightly managed leadership network anchored around Muhoozi’s authority.

By retaining key allies such as Nuwagira, Karugire, Mawanda, and Mwenda, while introducing new figures into the Central Committee, the changes suggest a balancing act between continuity and renewal.

At the same time, the swift, social-media-driven announcement style underscores the centralisation of decision-making within PLU, where leadership shifts are communicated directly and publicly by its top figure without prior institutional briefing.

The removal of Kabanda as Secretary General and the appointment of Hon. Fadil Twalla signal a significant reconfiguration within PLU’s leadership structure. Yet the retention of major power brokers and the expansion of the Central Committee suggest that the organisation remains anchored in continuity even as it undergoes visible renewal.

As Uganda’s political landscape continues to evolve ahead of future electoral cycles, PLU’s internal dynamics—publicly shaped and announced in real time—offer a window into how political authority, organisational control, and state-aligned mobilisation increasingly intersect within the country’s ruling ecosystem.

Latest appointments

‘Right Honourable Oboth Oboth and Right Honourable Tayebwa are appointed members of the Central Committee. They are my special envoys to Parliament.’ – Muhoozi Kainerugaba

“Hon. Sanjay Tanna appointed to the Central Committee as representative of the business community.” – Muhoozi Kainerugaba

You can see names of powerful politicians who have survived Muhoozi’s axe in latest PLU shakeup Here.

It should be remembered that in recent weeks, the PLU seemed at the centre of attention, especially with the election of the 12^th parliament speaker as secretary general MP Daudi Kabanda was engaged in a war of words with Justine Nameere who Museveni later released from detention and appointed minister, before explaining why he had appointed a quarrelsome woman as minister. (See Details Here, There and Over There).

Furthermore, while Muhoozi had been expected to run for president in 2026, his father Museveni has since started another term ending in 2031. PLU’s Andrew Mwenda has previously said that Museveni would not leave power until death, and was recently engaged in a war of words after he said that Museveni was too old and senile to rule Uganda. (See Details Here, There and Over There).