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Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s Twitter Activity Stirs Speculation on Ugandan Succession

by | Apr 7, 2023 | News | 0 comments

Muhoozi Kainerugaba

Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, has garnered international attention with a series of provocative tweets in recent months. The recurrent theme in his social media activity seems to be the insinuation that he will eventually succeed his father.

Muhoozi, a Sandhurst-educated general, first drew international attention on Twitter in October when he suggested how easily he could invade neighboring Kenya. President Museveni reacted by dismissing Muhoozi from his position as commander of Uganda’s land forces and urging him to leave the platform. However, Muhoozi has remained active on Twitter, recently offering to send Ugandan troops to defend Moscow from “imperialists” via a tweet that he later deleted.

Douglas Yates, a professor of African politics at the American Graduate School in Paris, has compared Muhoozi’s tweets to those of former US President Donald Trump. He described Muhoozi’s posts as “irresponsible comments” by the “heir to the palace,” suggesting that some leaders believe they can imitate Trump’s behavior without consequence.

Analysts argue that Muhoozi’s most significant tweets relate to domestic Ugandan politics. He recently announced the establishment of TV and radio channels dedicated to his “MK Movement,” an organization named after himself. He has also hinted at his intention to run for president in 2026, asserting that he represents the Ugandan youth. Furthermore, he has criticized the National Resistance Movement (NRM), founded by Museveni in 1986, as “probably the most reactionary organization in the country” that does not represent the people of Uganda.

Yates posits that, similar to Trump, Muhoozi may be trying to distance himself from the current power structure and position himself as an outsider. Kristof Titeca, a professor specializing in Ugandan politics at Antwerp University, notes that the question of who will succeed Museveni has become increasingly urgent due to the president’s advanced age.

Museveni’s popularity has waned since he first took control of Uganda 40 years ago. Although initially praised as a stabilizing force, he has faced mounting criticism for changing Uganda’s constitution to abolish presidential term and age limits. With 78% of the country’s population under 35, engaging the youth has become a crucial task in Ugandan politics.

In recent years, singer Bobi Wine has emerged as a leading opposition figure in Uganda, using Afrobeat music to engage the country’s young electorate. Wine’s unique blend of education and entertainment has resonated with voters, challenging the political status quo and further complicating the country’s succession landscape.

A Compilation of Some of Muhoozi’s Outrageous Tweets

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