I joined the army to take over, says Muhoozi
By George Murumba
27th Sept 2010
Muhoozi at the St. Mary's Kisubi function
President Museveni’s son Lt. Col. Muhoozi Kainerugaba has, perhaps for the very first time, declared that he joined the army in order to “…take over from the old guard of liberators to ensure sustained peace in the country”.
At a function to honour him for “serving his country with a rare humility” on Saturday 25th, Muhoozi told his former school mates at St. Mary’s College Kisubi that the other thing that forced him to join the army was the insecurity that prevailed in the country at the time. “…“Joseph Kony was in the north, ADF was strong in the West, and bombs were being thrown all over in Kampala. So we decided to join the UPDF because we could not just sit and watch”, the First Son said.
Although Muhoozi, a Lt. Colonel who now commands the elite Special Forces Group appeared to be tight lipped about a possible future political role for himself, he nonetheless gave a very strong hint that they the young generation were indeed determined to take over the leadership of the country.
“With the young people in the army, all the criminals were defeated and now we have unprecedented peace…the young should begin to determine the destiny of the country’s affairs. In the past we would say that all the faults were made by the old people but now the young people are the majority and the future is in their hands”, Muhoozi declared with visible confidence.
A lecturer in political science at Mukono Christian University who responded to a request for comment from Uganda Correspondent regarding Muhoozi’s declaration thought it was all part of a well planned succession plan for Muhoozi to take over the presidency.
“Only the blind and deaf are not seeing and hearing. When the mess of the NRM primaries was in full gear, Museveni told the country that the army had sent a warning to politicians to behave. That the army was not happy; now, Muhoozi says the destiny of the country is their hands. It’s all a well choreographed succession plan for Muhoozi”, said the don.
Muhoozi’s father President Museveni has himself sent mixed signals about a possible Muhoozi take over. During a function at Sheraton Hotel a few years back, Museveni hinted at the possibility of his son Muhoozi taking over when he retires. On other occasions, he has said that his family is only making sacrifices for the country. END. If it’s Monday, it’s Uganda Correspondent. Never miss out again!
