Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has announced plans to relinquish his position as the country’s top military officer, as he continues to signal his ambition to succeed his father, President Yoweri Museveni, as president.
Muhoozi, who has openly declared his intention to contest Uganda’s presidency in 2031, said he would hand over the military leadership to another officer in the coming months before dedicating his life to Christianity.
In a post on X on Friday, November 6, 2026, he said he had completed the responsibilities he believed God had assigned him as military chief.
“My time as CDF is coming to an end. I have accomplished all the tasks my God gave me. In a few months I will handover this office to a qualified officer. I shall dedicate my life to Christ after that,” he wrote.
However, Muhoozi did not name his proposed successor or provide a definite date for his departure, leaving uncertainty over the timing of the transition.
In another post, he suggested he would remain in the military for at least another year.
“Don’t worry, I’m still around. At least for another year. My heroes have always been UPDF soldiers. We are struggling to improve their accommodation,” he stated.
He also proposed raising the basic monthly salary of every private in the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) to two million Ugandan shillings, saying the proposed adjustment should take effect in the next financial year.
Muhoozi’s Presidential Ambition
Muhoozi’s announcement comes amid growing attention to his political ambitions and the question of who will eventually succeed Museveni, who has governed Uganda since 1986.
In August 2026, the military chief publicly declared his intention to contest the presidency in 2031, expressing confidence that he would win with the support of his father.
“I will stand for the highest office in the land in 2031. And we will win by the grace of Almighty God,” he wrote in one of his social media posts.
He subsequently claimed he expected to secure 90% of the votes in the election, adding that he had Museveni’s backing.
The declaration reinforced longstanding speculation that the Ugandan president could eventually transfer power to his son, although Museveni has not publicly announced a formal succession arrangement.
In September, David Kabanda, an official associated with the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), also indicated that Muhoozi intended to contest the 2031 election and claimed the ambition had the president’s support.
The PLU has increasingly been associated with efforts to mobilise political support around Muhoozi’s presidential aspirations.
Museveni’s Extended Presidency
86 year old Museveni has been in power since January 1986, when his National Resistance Army seized control of Kampala following a five-year guerrilla war.
He secured another term in the January 2026 presidential election, extending his rule into a seventh term.
His prolonged presidency has kept the question of political succession at the centre of Uganda’s political debate, particularly as Muhoozi’s public statements and growing influence within the country’s military and political establishment fuel speculation about a possible father-to-son transfer of power.
Uganda’s opposition has faced considerable pressure, with prominent political figures experiencing detention, legal proceedings and restrictions on political activities.
Opposition leader Kizza Besigye has remained in detention since 2024 over treason-related charges, which he has denied.
Meanwhile, National Unity Platform leader Bobi Wine fled Uganda for the United States following the January 2026 election, saying he feared for his safety.
Wine rejected the election results and alleged irregularities in the electoral process. The election also attracted criticism over an internet shutdown and a security crackdown, alongside allegations of human rights abuses against opposition supporters.
Muhoozi’s Rise to Uganda’s Top Military Position
Museveni appointed Muhoozi Chief of Defence Forces in March 2024, replacing General Wilson Mbadi, who was subsequently appointed Minister of State for Trade.
Muhoozi formally assumed office on March 28, 2024, at a handover ceremony held at the UPDF’s Fourth Division Headquarters in Gulu.
Before his appointment, he served as Commander of the Land Forces and headed the Special Forces Command. He also held the position of Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations.
His military career began in 1999, and he received military training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom.
