Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has appointed his son General Muhoozi Kainerugaba as the new Chief of Defence Forces (CDF).
Muhonzi has replaced General Wilson Mbasu Mbadi who was appointed Minister of State for trade in a cabinet reshuffle announced on March 21.
In a statement, Museveni indicated that he had only made slight changes to the cabinet of Uganda, sharing the list of his new members of the cabinet.
“I hereby inform the country that by virtue of the authority given to the President of Uganda by Articles: 108(2), 108A(1), 113(1), and 114(1) of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, that here below I publish a slightly amended list of the cabinet of Uganda,” he stated.
Other Appointments Made by Museveni
Museveni appointed General Wilson Mbasu Mbadi as the minister of state for trade in the ministry of trade and cooperatives, Lt Gen Peter Elwelu as the Senior Presidential Advisor, Lt Gen Samuel Okiding as the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces and Major General Leopold Eric Kyanda as the Defence attaché.
Additionally, he appointed Maj Gen Jackson Bakasumba as the Joint Chief of Staff, promoted Brig Gen David Mugisha to major General and Col Asaph Nyakyikuru to Brigadier General.
“The UPDF fraternity Congratulates the General officers for the new appointments and well-deserved promotions and wish them good luck in their new assignments and ranks,” the notice from the ministry of defence and veterans affairs read in part.
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Muhonzi Threaten to Take Over Nairobi
In October 2022, Muhoozi claimed that it would take him and his army men less than two weeks to take control of Nairobi.
In a series of tweets, Muhoozi bragged about the strength of the Ugandan army adding that former President Uhuru Kenyatta would have won if he vied for a third time.
“It wouldn’t take us, my army and me, two weeks to capture Nairobi. My only problem with my beloved big brother is that he didn’t stand for a third term. We would have won easily,” he stated.
However, he received backlash from Kenyans who demanded that he issued a public apology.
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In January 2023, he stated that his remarks were only a joke indicating that he was surprised that some people took it seriously.
“Three months ago, I made a ‘joke’ about taking over Nairobi in two weeks. Now any Tom, Dick or Harry immediately saw it for what it was…’a joke’,
“But unfortunately for some, it was not. Either way, the truth shall win! The East African Federation shall be realized,” he stated.
At the same time, his father, the president, issued a statement apologizing on behalf of his son’s actions.
“I ask our Kenyan brothers and sisters to forgive us for tweets sent by General Muhoozi, former commander of land forces here, regarding the election matters in that great country,” read part of the statement.
