Army spokesperson Brig Gen Felix Kulaigye said Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is also the commander of Uganda’s land forces, is still active and has not even applied for retirement.
Gen Kainerugaba, widely believed to be Museveni’s successor, on Tuesday posted on Twitter that he had retired from the army after 28 years of service.
Hours after the tweet went viral, a video of the “First Son” with his close friend, journalist Andrew Mwenda, was released. In it Gen Kainerugaba insisted he will only retire in eight years.
The real news about @mkainerugaba retirement from @UPDFspokespersn is right here! pic.twitter.com/VWKaV1BSmb
— Andrew M. Mwenda (@AndrewMwenda) March 8, 2022
Infact, Mwenda said the retirement tweet was an error by Gen Kainerugaba’s social media handlers.
Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s retirement rumours come at a time when his supporters have been pressing a campaign on social media and elsewhere for him to stand in 2026.
Although Ugandan law forbids soldiers from participating in politics, his supporters say he has a right to seek the country’s presidency like any other citizen.
On the other hand, his father, Museveni has on numerous occasions repeatedly denied accusations he wanted to hand over power to his son.
Although he has not publicly declared his intentions to run for presidency, his recent Twitter retirement announcement from the army has led many Ugandans to believe Kainerugaba is being groomed to succeed Museveni.
