Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has declared that he will seek the presidency in 2031, putting the son of President Yoweri Museveni at the centre of the country’s succession politics, as reported by CNBC Africa and People Daily. Kainerugaba, 52, announced his intention in posts on X, saying he would “stand for the highest office” and expressing confidence that he would win.
Kainerugaba went further by predicting that he could secure 90% of the vote with his father’s support. The general, who also leads the Patriotic League of Uganda, had previously been linked to a presidential run in the 2026 election but ultimately withdrew and backed Museveni.
The announcement comes after Museveni, 81, secured a seventh presidential term in January 2026, extending his rule into the 2026 to 2031 period. Uganda’s government has not indicated whether Museveni will seek another term, with a government spokesperson saying that the president and his ruling National Resistance Movement will make that decision when the time comes.
Kainerugaba’s declaration could therefore intensify the debate over whether Uganda’s long anticipated political succession will eventually move from father to son. His military position, political mobilisation through the PLU and close association with Museveni make the 2031 election potentially one of the most consequential succession contests in Uganda’s recent history.
