NRM Denies Rejecting Muhoozi Presidency Proposal

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has denied reports that its top decision-making organ rejected a proposal to make Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba Uganda's next president. NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong described the reports as completely false. He stated that the party had not rejected any such proposal. The reports emerged after a closed-door meeting of the party's Central Executive Committee (CEC) on November 10, 2026.

The CEC meeting sparked speculation that some senior NRM officials opposed a proposal to endorse Muhoozi as President Yoweri Museveni's successor. However, Todwong warned against relying on unofficial reports. He said the NRM would communicate any decisions through the appropriate channels and at the right time. The statement left unanswered questions about what actually transpired during the November 10 meeting.

The debate over Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba's possible succession to his father has remained a key subject in Uganda's political discussions. Muhoozi, who is the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) of the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF), has increasingly featured in public discussions about Uganda's political future. His supporters have openly expressed interest in seeing him take over the country's leadership.

On August 26, 2026, Muhoozi publicly declared that he would contest the 2031 presidential election. He said he expected to win with his father's support. Muhoozi had previously expressed interest in contesting the 2026 election but eventually backed his father's re-election bid. In September 2026, the Patriotic League of Uganda launched a nationwide mobilisation campaign targeting 25 million signatures to endorse Muhoozi for the 2031 presidential race.

The succession question is particularly sensitive because Museveni has been in power since January 1986. He is one of Africa's longest-serving presidents. Although the President has not publicly announced a successor, speculation about who could eventually take over has continued. The debate also raises questions about the constitutional and legal position of Muhoozi's political ambitions while he remains a serving military officer.

Article 208(2) of the Constitution requires the UPDF to remain non-partisan. Section 99 of the UPDF Act sets out restrictions on serving military personnel seeking elective political office. Daudi Kabanda, from the Patriotic League, dismissed the reports as false. He claimed that Museveni had endorsed Muhoozi during an earlier CEC meeting on October 27.

The NRM's statement is significant because it is the party secretariat's official response to the reports. However, the Secretary General did not provide details of the November 10 deliberations. He did not explicitly state whether Muhoozi's possible succession was discussed. The issue remains a contentious topic in Ugandan politics, with various stakeholders weighing in on the matter.

Key points

• The NRM denied reports that it rejected a proposal to make Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba Uganda's next president.
• Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba has expressed interest in contesting the 2031 presidential election.
• The succession debate raises questions about the constitutional and legal position of Muhoozi's political ambitions as a serving military officer.