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Kainerugaba, 52, currently heads Uganda’s military and has become an increasingly influential figure as his 82-year-old father takes a less active role in governing the East African country after four decades in power.
Widely known as “Muhoozi”, the president’s son has expressed his intention to contest the 2031 presidential election. However, his repeated disregard for the law and provocative social media posts have raised concerns among political observers and members of the ruling party. He has frequently boasted online about torturing opponents in his “basement”.
In recent months, Kainerugaba has reportedly had political opponents detained, threatened to behead opposition leader Bobi Wine and forced the country’s leading independent media group to suspend operations for several weeks.
Museveni has maintained a firm grip on power since taking office in 1986. However, his apparent efforts to pave the way for his son to succeed him have unsettled some members of the National Resistance Movement (NRM).
At a closed-door meeting of the NRM’s executive committee on Tuesday, party leaders considered the question of succession. However, discussions over Kainerugaba’s candidacy were halted after several of the committee’s 28 members spoke against the proposal and received loud applause, according to five people who attended the meeting.
By the time the vote was abandoned, four members had reportedly supported Kainerugaba’s candidacy, while three had voted against it, the sources told AFP.
One participant said concerns over the army chief’s behaviour and confrontational approach had made some party members uncomfortable.
“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,” the source said.
Another participant said NRM vice-chairman Calvin Echodu had advised Museveni to remove his son from the military and give him a civilian role to help him understand the population and prepare for leadership.
Echodu also reportedly urged the president to seek another term in 2031, arguing that his son was not yet prepared to take over.
“as his son is not yet ready,” the source added.
The meeting was described by attendees as an unusual show of resistance against Museveni, who has governed Uganda for nearly four decades.
The president first raised the issue of succession in late October when he presented a paper to senior party members, suggesting that his son possessed the necessary qualifications to lead the country.
Kainerugaba has continued to attract attention in recent days through a series of aggressive posts on X. In his latest remarks, he threatened to arrest Vice President Jessica Alupo over allegations that she was involved in a plot to overthrow the government.
