Politics
Confirmed! Muhoozi Kainerugaba to Stand for Presidency in 2026 Elections
The first son General Muhoozi Kainerugaba is to stand for the topmost office in the country, the Presidential seat in a move that will see him replace his father Yoweri Kaguta Museveni who has ruled the nation for about four decades, eyewitness has learnt.
The Chairman Patriotic League Uganda General Muhoozi Kainerugaba who is set to replace his father come 2026 elections.
At first we thought it was a joke. But on April 24th 2022, Muhoozi celebrated his first birthday at Lugogo Indoor Stadium where the Prime Minister Rt Hon Robinah Nabbanja was the Chief Guest. The Birthday celebration was attended by Ministers and top Uganda People’s Defense Forces -UPDF Generals. The event was organized by his supporters and fans led by one of his relatives Toyota Nuwagira.
A week after the Birthday, the then Director of Communications for MK Movement Frank Gashumba was hosted on a Local Television night Program and interviewed regarding how the function of the birthday went. In response, Gashumba stated that “Muhoozi Asimbudde”, which literally means Muhoozi has started. Again we thought it was a joke.
Muhoozi would later hold another mega function at the Golf course in Entebbe where thousands of people attended. These included more than 200 members of Parliament led by the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Rt.Hon. Thomas Tayebwa and more than 50 District LC5 Chairpersons and more than 100 top military officers . Unlike the Lugogo event, this Entebbe event was organized by Muhoozi’s friends and his Old Boys (OBs) from the various learning institutions he pursued his academic career from.
Captain Mike Mukula who was the Chief Guest at the launch of PLU
Shortly, the nation saw different groups moving across the country preaching the MK Gospel. These were MK Army, Team Chairman, Revolutionary Guards, The Avengers, The Muhoozi Originals and Team Simba.
Each of these groups had different activities, independent of each other’s.
Later on, the birthday celebrations continued to spread all over different parts of the country and this time round, the General took the party in Kabale to commemorate the opening of the Uganda – Rwanda Border Closure which had been under lock and key for about three years by the Kigali Administration.
Vice Chairperson Patriotic League of Uganda in Charge of Western Uganda(Left) and right is his Central Region Counterpart Frank Gashumba.
We without this was a joke and it is ending there. However, Muhoozi remained relentless. In 2023, he merged the said groups that were supporting him with different activities and formed the “MK Movement “.
To justify the merger, Muhoozi said it was for “proper coordination and management “. He added “there were uncoordinated movements”.
Subsequently, the first son appointed leadership of the Movement of which he led as the Chairman.
He appointed Dr Lillian Aber the Kitgum District Woman Member of Parliament as his Vice Chairperson in Charge of Northern Uganda, Frank Gashumba as the Vice Chairperson in Charge of the Central Region and Dr Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi the Vice Chairperson in Charge of Western Uganda.
Others he appointed are; Toyota Nuwagira and Michael Maranga Mawanda the Igara East legislator as members of the Central Executive Committee (CEC), Michael Katungi in Charge of External Affairs, and Veteran Journalist Andrew Mwenda as the MK Movement Official Spokesperson and Kasambya County MP David Kabanda as the Deputy Spokesperson.
By the time 2023 ended, there was uncertainty amongst the members of the public on what MK Movement was up to or what its next move would be, only to come out on February 7th 2024 in a yet another historical moment where they rebranded to “Patriotic League of Uganda(PLU) , a pressure group for now.
The massive launch of the Patriotic League of Uganda was attended by thousands of the people in an event that took place in Naguru, Plot 7 Saddler way, a Kampala posh end, just behind Kampala Parents Primary School where Muhoozi studied Primary from.
According to records seen by Our Reporter, this event was attended by 68 MPs, 72 District Chairpersons LC5 and Ministers such as Frank Tumwebaze the Minister for Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Margaret Muhanga tgr State Minister for Primary Health Care, Harriet Ntabazi State Minister for Trade, Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo State Minister for Microfinance and Diana Nankunda Mutasingwa the State Minister in the office of the Vice President.
Top Officials in Patriotic league Left to Right: MP Michael Mawanda , Captain Mike Mukula, Minister Frank Tumwebaze and Toyota Nuwagira at the launch on February 7th 2024.
Flight Captain Mike Mukula who is the Vice Chairperson for the ruling National Resistance Movement -NRM party was the Chief Guest and spoke in 20 languages supporting the transition of power which he said should be done in the ruling party as it was in Tanzania and Cuba.
“We will manage the transition very well. I want to assure you that Muhoozi is your answer”, Mukula said.
Worth noting is that two of the Opposition National Unity Platform Members of Parliament namely; Bukoto South MP Twaha Kagabo and Njeru Municipality MP Jimmy Lwanga also attended the launch of the Patriotic League Uganda pledging support to Muhoozi’s new organization.
In his rare public appearances, Muhoozi appeared at the Royal Wedding in Busoga as Kyabazinga William Nadiope Gabula with his wife Jovia Mutesi on November 18th 2023 at an event that one would equate to a political rally due to thousands of people that attended and speeches made therein.
Earlier in July 23rd 2023, Muhoozi accompanied his father General Museveni to attend the 2nd Russia -Africa Summit in St Petersburg, an issue that left many netizens guessing why the president had gone with his son. Many said he is being groomed up to be able to win the succession battle.
But the General later posted that the MK Movement fully endorses the President’s call for historical allies.
“I was honoured and pleased to attend the 2nd Russia-Africa Summit in St.Petersburg. The MK Movement fully endorses our President’s call for historical allies like Russia and China to encourage the importation of only processed goods from industrializing countries like Uganda’, said Muhoozi.
The duo proceeded up to Serbia and met President Aleksandar Vucic on their way from Russia for a two days official visit. They later officiated at the launch of the Uganda Trade Hub ,Uganda Connect in Belgrade which is aimed at strengthening the bilateral relations between Uganda and Serbia and paving way for Uganda’s goods and services in the in the Balkans region.
A month later, Muhoozi met the former President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta whom he normally describes as his big brother and they discussed issues related to the status of Democratic Republic of Congo-DRC Peace talks.
Earlier, in 2022, Muhoozi who is also the former Commander of Uganda’s Land Forces visited Rwanda thrice in one year meeting President Paul Kagame. The first one was in January when he got involved in efforts to restore bilateral relations between Rwanda and Uganda.
“I might not be CLF anymore but our commitments to Rwanda are unchanged! Any threat to Rwanda is a threat to Uganda”, Muhoozi said.
A highly placed sources who didn’t allow to be quoted as he is not authorized to Speak on behalf of the rebranded Civic organization-PLU, confirmed to our Reporter that “Preparations are in high gear for Muhoozi to stand for Presidency 2026”.
The Electoral Commission has since fixed October 2nd to 3rd, 2025 for nomination of Presidential Candidates ahead of the Presidential elections fixed for January 12th 2026.
But now, what is the future of this new kid on the block, the Patriotic League Uganda ahead of 2026 elections? Do we see another birth of a political party prior to the polls? And are all these high-level international meetings of Muhoozi by a coincidence? Why at this time?
-End
Below is the proclamation about the change of name from MK Movement to ‘The Patriotic League Uganda.’
“WHEREAS the MK Movement started in April 2022 as a spontaneous and diverse group of Ugandans that rallied around Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba to appreciate his military service, and the service of his army comrades, to the Republic of Uganda. AND WHEREAS over the past 17 months, the MK Movement has remained engaged and active in mobilizing Ugandans towards the goal of national unity, peace and stability.
AND WHEREAS national unity, peace and stability can only be achieved by a patriotic citizenry that are mobilized, organized and empowered to fulfil their role in building sustainable foundations for the independence, sovereignty, and socio-economic development of their fatherland.
AND WHEREAS in the exercise and enjoyment of rights by citizens, scant attention has been paid to the inseparable duties and obligations of citizens, particularly the duty to be patriotic and loyal to Uganda and to promote its wellbeing.
NOW THEREFORE, we the MK Movement HEREBY PROCLAIM the aforementioned objects to be a manifest precondition for the independence, sovereignty and development of Uganda; and in furtherance of the aforementioned objects, we
HEREBY CONSTITUTE ourselves into a civic organization and ASSUME AND ADOPT a new name and identity, the
PATRIOTIC LEAGUE OF UGANDA, with the aim of working towards reviving in Ugandans a spirit of good citizenship, national pride, national service, protection of vulnerable persons, combating corruption and wastage of public resources, and protection of the environment”.
WE UNDERTAKE that the PATRIOTIC LEAGUE OF UGANDA will contribute, in a civil capacity, towards mobilizing Ugandans to fulfil their civic duties (mentioned above) as citizens of this land, for the benefit of society as a whole and to jealously guard the unique natural and social harmony that makes Uganda.
WE COMMIT to ensure that the PATRIOTIC LEAGUE OF UGANDA’S efforts towards reviving patriotism will remain non-partisan, non-denominational and non-sectarian”
