Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has officially declared his intention to run for the presidency in 2031, seeking to succeed his father, President Yoweri Museveni.
The announcement was delivered on Tuesday, September 1, by David Kabanda, Muhoozi’s aide and Head of the Chairman’s Office of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), during a meeting with party officials.
“I am here once again to inform you that General Kainerugaba has informed me that he is going to run for the president of Uganda,” Kabanda stated.
Presidential Backing and Mobilization Strategy
Kabanda revealed that Muhoozi’s candidacy has received the explicit approval of President Museveni.
“I must tell you that this one has been sanctioned by His Excellency the President,” Kabanda added.
Following the declaration, the PLU plans to mobilize structured endorsement rallies across Uganda’s 146 districts. The initiative aims to gather required signatures and build a grassroots campaign strategy targeting a 90 percent victory margin in the 2031 general elections.
Transition of Power
Muhoozi, who currently heads the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and leads the Patriotic League of Uganda, has long been central to succession discussions in Ugandan politics.
The official announcement sets the stage for a major political transition ahead of campaign preparations scheduled to begin in January 2027. President Museveni has led Uganda since taking office in 1986.