The name General Muhoozi Kainerugamba needs no introduction to many in Kenya and the East African region. 

Besides being the son of Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni, Muhoozi is known for his stunts on social media- some of which have rubbed Kenyans the wrong way and are deemed controversial.

But little is known about his childhood and the journey he walked on his way to taking up senior military positions including his recent appointment as the new Ugandan Chief of Defence Forces.

His life has not always been rosy but rather a ride with ups and downs as his father President Musevni’s political and military life affected their lives.

At some point in his childhood, Muhoozi and his siblings were forced into exile in several countries including Kenya. 

In 1981, Muhoozi, then a seven-year-old boy, had to flee into exile to Kenya with his mother and sisters after the contentious 1980 elections which culminated into a resistance war.

Milton Obote won the 1980 elections against a then young Museveni and other politicians of the day. 

But the elections were marred with allegations of massive rigging which saw Museveni team up with Uganda’s former President Yusufu Lule to form the National Resistance Movement (NRM).

Muhoozi and his siblings forced to flee to Kenya

The elections were succeeded by months of a civil war which prompted Museveni’s family to flee to Kenya.

During his stay in Kenya, Museveni attended the Mount Kenya Academy in Nyeri to continue with his primary education. 

In the 1980s, the MKA was a reputable school in Kenya and was ranked among the most successful schools in Kenya on KCPE performance. 

Also Read: Museveni Son Who Threatened to Take Over Nairobi Appointed Military Chief

Currently, the school charges school fees of up to Kshs122,745 per term (inclusive of tuition fees and boarding) for pupils in grade 1-3, and Kshs137,185 per term for learners in grades 4-6.

Its graduates have gone on to join top government and private secondary schools and then to Universities in Kenya, the UK, the USA, Canada and Australia.

Muhoozi’s birth and early childhood

Muhoozi was born in Dar es Salaam in Tanzania in 1974 where his mother, Janet Museveni was living in exile. 

He started his early education in Tanzania and later attended schools in Kenya, and Sweden before his family reintegrated in 1986 after his father took overpower.

After his return to Kampala, Muhoozi attended schools including the Kampala Parents School, King’s College Budo and St Mary’s College Kisubi.

Also Read: General Muhoozi Vows Revenge Following Attack on Kenyatta Family Farm

Later, Muhoozi enrolled at the Nottingham University in the UK where he graduated from Nottingham University with a BA in Political Science in 1997.

Muhoozi then joined the Military in 1999 and went on to rapidly climb up the military ranks.

Kainerugaba has also attended military training programs in other countries including at the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth in the United States.