The controversial son of Uganda’s veteran chief Yoweri Museveni introduced plans to run for the presidency within the 2026 elections, saying it was “time for our technology to shine.”
Muhoozi Kainerugaba made the announcement in a now-deleted tweet posted on Wednesday night time.
Observers have lengthy believed that Kainerugaba, whose earlier Twitter outbursts have sparked uproar, together with a diplomatic spat with Kenya, was being groomed for the highest job.
Though the 48-year-old basic has prior to now denied claims he intends to succeed his father – considered one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders – he has loved a fast rise by means of Uganda’s military ranks.
In his tweet, Kainerugaba wrote: “Within the identify of Jesus Christ my God, within the identify of all of the younger individuals of Uganda and the world and within the identify of our nice revolution, I’ll stand for the presidency in 2026”.
He additionally appeared to take a dig at his 78-year-old father, writing: “What number of agree with me that our time has come? Sufficient of the previous individuals ruling us. Dominating us. It’s time for our technology to shine. Retweet and like”.
He had earlier mentioned the federal government was failing to rein in corruption after an investigation accused cupboard ministers and different officers of stealing iron sheets supposed for villagers within the impoverished northeastern area of Karamoja.
Following a row final 12 months over a tweet threatening to invade Kenya, Museveni had sought to rein in his wayward son by telling him to remain off Twitter relating to political opinions.
Museveni had apologised to Kenya in October after Kainerugaba, amongst different remarks, steered it might take his troops two weeks to seize Nairobi.
Museveni nonetheless defended his solely son as a “superb basic”, after selling him to the rank regardless of stripping him of his position as chief of Uganda’s land forces.
To many Ugandans, Kainerugaba’s place as inheritor obvious has been apparent along with his dizzying climb by means of the army, however the authorities has prior to now taken a harsh line in opposition to anybody discussing the matter.
In 2013, police shut two impartial newspapers and two radio stations for 10 days after they printed a leaked confidential memo by a senior basic alleging that Museveni was grooming Kainerugaba to succeed him.
Kainerugaba’s feedback on delicate overseas coverage issues have usually brought about diplomatic complications for Uganda.
His tweets in assist of Tigrayan rebels in Ethiopia angered Addis Ababa, whereas his ideas on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the 2021 coup in Guinea additionally raised eyebrows.
