In 2021 when Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the CDF announced on his X platform that he would stand for president in 2026, some political analysts thought it was a bad joke.
However, others, especially the opportunistic political players jumped on his wagon and started a mobilization campaign to have him succeed his father, President Museveni.
There was excitement when the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) was formed as the vehicle to drive Muhoozi to State House and some people started angling for opportunities.
Yet when Museveni appointed his son Chief of Defence Forces and drafted some of his fervent supporters into cabinet, the mood changed.
Certainly, Muhoozi’s announcement that he would not stand in 2026 disappointed many of his supporters. Yet to a keen political observer, it was neither surprising nor shocking.
Here is how and why Muhoozi Project 2026 went up in smoke.
Loose tongue, itchy fingers
It appears that when Gen Muhoozi sits behind a computer or in front of his smart phone, the fingers get itchy. Since the general elections in 2021, Muhoozi has been tweeting things that would make you shudder. He once told Kenyans that UPDF could overrun Nairobi in a few hours setting off a diplomatic row. He has written about the Ukraine-Russian war, attacking Western powers behind Kyiv. He has called one of his brothers-in-law, the biggest thief in Uganda. With this kind of temperament, some say Muhoozi was ill-prepared to lead Uganda in 2026.
Disregard for the law
If you really want to be president, you should be in a position to respect and follow the law of the land. Muhoozi did not. As a serving army officer, he engaged in partisan politics contraveneing several sections of the UPDF ACT. Even some of his supporters thought they were law unto themselves and did all manner of things without fear of repercussions. This was a big misjudgment on the part of the general.
Keeping questionable company
There is a saying that “show me your friends and I tell you who you are.” Many of the faces that were behind Muhoozi’s now foild bid had questionable characters. Frank Gashumba, a self-styled analyst has been accused of engaging in fraud before. Michael Mawanda, PLU’s was arrested over allegations of corruption. Daudi Kabanda, the secretary general of PLU, is not the kind of person you can go with in a high-level meeting. Balaam Barugahare, the events promoter…the less said, the better.
Poor communicator
Muhoozi will have to work on his communication and public speaking skills if he wants to be president in future. On several occasions, Muhoozi could not easily glide through a three-minute speech without a hiccup. Muhoozi doesn’t have to be a good orator like Barack Obama to become president but he can be an effective communicator like Donald Trump.
His father’s ambitions
Perhaprs the biggest obstacle to Muhoozi’s 2026 ambition was his father, President Museveni. As long as Museveni still wants to be president, he will crush anybody in his path even if it is his son. That’s what exactly happened. At a time when Muhoozi was traversing the country and gaining some popularity the father appointed him CDF, effectively taking him out of the public. The father also clandestinely started a youth movement to counter Muhoozi codenamed, Jajja Tova Ku Main. Museveni, will all know, will have a big say on whether his son succeeds him or another person.