Museveni’s Son Muhoozi Kainerugaba Declares 2031 Presidential Ambition

Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni, has declared his intention to contest the country’s presidency in the 2031 election.

Kainerugaba, 52, made the announcement in a series of posts on X on Tuesday, bringing an end to years of speculation over whether he would eventually seek to succeed his father.

“I will stand for the highest office in the land in 2031. And we will win by the grace of Almighty God,” he wrote.

He also predicted a landslide victory, saying he expected to secure 90 per cent of the vote with the backing of his father.

“Mzee will be my campaign manager,” Kainerugaba said, using the honorific commonly used to refer to President Museveni.

Kainerugaba, who heads Uganda’s army as well as the Patriotic League of Uganda, a political pressure group, has long been regarded as a potential successor to his father.

He had previously indicated that he intended to contest the 2026 presidential election but later withdrew from the race and backed Museveni, who went on to secure another term.

Museveni, 81, has ruled Uganda for more than four decades. During his tenure, constitutional amendments removed presidential term and age limits, allowing him to remain in office beyond the previous restrictions.

It is not yet clear whether Museveni intends to seek another term in 2031.

However, his son’s latest declaration has made his own presidential ambitions clear and is likely to intensify discussions about the future of Uganda’s leadership and the prospect of a family succession.