Divisions and misunderstandings have erupted within the first family ever since Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba publicly declared his intentions to contest for the top most post of this country, the Presidency, come 2026, according to reports coming from State House.
As the current Ugandan President, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Tibuhaburwa, is busy preparing to defend his post in 2026, his son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba and his supporters, launched a political pressure group, The Patriotic League of Uganda, which has left the first family divided and perturbed.
Disgruntlement among members in the first family, gave Muhoozi a soft ground to declare his intentions to contest for the 2026 presidency. Some of his uncles who were sidelined from accessing State House for one reason or another, be it corruption, self enrichment, impersonation, favours etc, found it a right time to back and sponsor Muhoozi to replace his father in anticipation for favours, security for their amassed wealth and continuity of the status quo. Even some Ministers in the Museveni’s Government have jumped on bandwagon to sponser Muhoozi’s bid for presidency leaving the cabinet divided
Though Mzee Museven is yet to publicly declare his intentions to contest for the2026 presidential elections, his actions in the past, clearly show his interests to defend his chair come 2026 elections.
Political analysts say that NRM as a party with Mzee Tibuhaburwa Museveni as its chairman, is not only fighting to win the 2026 elections, but instead for the transition of the 2031 elections as the 2026 election deal is already a done case.
Political analysts say in many third World countries especially those ruled by dictators, the winning of the elections is determined long before the voting day, starting from the appointment of the Electoral Commission and approving of its budget. This is simply because the opposition is not involved anywhere in these
processes.
The declaration by the first son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba to contest for the Presidency in the coming elections together with his father, Mzee Museveni, has left the opposition confused as its not sure where to direct its political guns, as they are not sure yet whether the son, the father or both, will be appearing on the ballot paper.
Worse still, the opposition seem not to be concerned of what is happening in the state house and instead concentrating on their internal battles for example the misunderstanding between Mpuuga and the NUP president Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, Besigye and Nandala Mafabi and others.
What most Ugandans do not know or are ignoring is that Mzee Tibuhaburwa Museveni is building and preparing for a wider thing in the East African region. For a long time now, Museveni has been building his popularity within the region by persuading countries neighbouring East Africa to join the regional community which only had three countries, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. He offered these countries military support to keep their dictatorial leaders in power and to help them fight their rebel opposition groups fighting their government.
In some cases, he has rendered support to rebel groups to capture power from the legitimate governments. Countries like Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, D.R. Congo and Somalia have joined the East African community with the pursuance and backup of Museveni. With his popularity coupled with fear from majority of these countries, Mzee Tibuhaburwa Museveni is expecting or very sure of achieving his long time ambition of being elected president of the East African Community, once the issue comes up again.
As time for the 2026 elections draw approaches, the public is going to witness intensified political campaigns which will include new original names appearing and struggle of how and where to appear on the ballot paper. Placing of the photograph and how a candidate appears on the ballot paper plays a big role among the electorate especially those in rural areas where most are illiterate, the near the alphabetical order of the name, the better. Museveni has has utilised the tactic on several occasions, being either on the top of the ballot paper or at the bottom, leaving other contestants squeezed in the middle, even putting on a hat or a peculiar dress easily signifies one among others and illiterate voters can easily be directed.
As 2026 elections approaches, more is to unfold.
ADVERTISMENT
