In his congratulation message to Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba as the new Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) of the Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF), veteran journalist and also political, social and economic commentator Andrew Mwenda warned bad elements at the army headquarters and officials in the Ministry of Defense and Veteran Affairs to prepare for the worst.
“This is the third phase of the struggle to transform UPDF. This is a new broom coming to sweep defense headquarters. Those who have been involved in dirty deals, beware what is coming. He is the most upright Ugandan when it comes to clean management; the most dedicated officer concerned about the effectiveness of the army and the welfare of its soldiers. UPDF has been waiting for this moment,” Mwenda stated on his X handle.
Another close friend to Gen. Muhoozi who was among the Kadogos who fought the 1981 guerrilla war that brought President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in power in 1986 but retired at the rank of Maj. Gen. revealed to TV10Gano Mazima that in 2021, UPDF and other sister security forces were very sure that Museveni was going to appoint Gen. Muhoozi as the CDF but were surprised when he appointed him as the Land Forces Commander and Gen. Wilson Mbadi who was the Deputy CDF was appointed the CDF.
“I warned Muhoozi that he cannot use the powers as the Land Forces Commander to clean corruption, abuse of office and other criminalities at the army headquarters. He thought I was joking. He later confirmed what I told him,” the highly trained UPDF veteran said.
He narrated that back then, when he was discussing with Muhoozi concerning his new assignment as the Land Forces Commander, Muhoozi told him how the big man had given him powers to clean the system but warned him that there are a number of untouchables.
He said that when Muhoozi established that indeed there are many untouchables, he reported back to the appointing authority who promised to find a new way of streamlining the system so that those fueling corruption in the army are handled.
His son told him that corruption only benefits big people at the headquarters leaving soldiers on the ground suffering with poor living conditions and their respective families.
Muhoozi made a number of reports on how to clean the system to Museveni after touring the entire country visiting military barracks but Museveni took a long time without responding to him which resulted in threatening to seek early retirement from the army.
“After 28 years of service in my glorious military, the greatest military in the world, I am happy to announce my retirement. Me and my soldiers have achieved so much,” Muhoozi posted on his X then Twitter handle.
Highly placed sources in State House disclosed that Museveni was briefed about Muhoozi’s tweet and told to get in touch with him and advise him to stopmaking such statements on social media. But before he finished executing what he promised to streamline the system, Muhoozi made shocking and provoking statement against the Republic of Kenya threatening that him and his army can attack and takeover Nairobi.
Kenyans were very furious, Museveni was forced to apologize to calm the storm. He fired Muhoozi from the office of the Land Forces Commander and appointed him Senior Presidential Advisor in charge of Special Operations.
Joseph Tamale Mirundi a close friend to Muhoozi and also a Senior presidential advisor in charge of media revealed that Muhoozi was very bitter with his father’s decision of firing him.
Mirundi insisted that Museveni regretted later that Muhoozi was doing a good job when he kicked off plans to clean the army because people had been complaining that the ongoing corruption at the army headquarters and in the Ministry of Defense and Veteran Affairs is going to kill the force.
Highly placed sources in State House told TV10Gano Mazima that Museveni has been receiving credible reports on how officials at the army headquarters share money which is supposed to be given to family members of UPDF soldiers who died while still serving their country.
“They forged documents detailing facts from the beneficiary’s local council up to the top and made sure that payment is done in time. They started receiving money and they made sure that the original beneficiary don’t accesses any officers with authority,” a source said.
Kira Municipality Legislator Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda disclosed that because of the huge corruption in the army, some officers had started selling weapons to enemies insisting that such vices are exhibited in Somalia and a number of the suspects have been charged in the army court.
Corrupt officers also solicited money from young people who wanted to join the army and instead incompetent ones were registered which was weakening the country’s forces.
When UPDF base was attacked and overrun by Somalia’s deadly Al-Shabab terrorists in 2023, President Museveni told NRM parliamentary legislators at Kyankwanzi that corruption was one of the factors that led to the defeat of the country’s army in Somalia where over 53 soldiers were killed and a number of others captured.
In his speech at the recent army day, Museveni was very bitter with the army’s leadership over the ongoing corruption in the army which he said was threatening the army’s integrity and many said that it is one of the reasons why Gen. Mbadi and Vicent Ssempijja were fired.
Sources maintained that Museveni was given reports with evidence on how army officials are using their offices to grab land especially in Northern Uganda.
Some time back, Chief Justice Owiny Dollo told the president that land grabbing in Acholi land was influenced by UPDF Generals hiding behind Balalo.
“The President was briefed of a Gen. who grabbed miles and miles of land and is using the army to protect it. Because this General is going to retire in the coming year, he has started dishing out money to people because he wants to join politics as a Member of Parliament,” a source said.
Museveni was also given a report with evidence pining a Division army commander who is grabbing land belonging to the family of one of his wives in Kiruhura district.
The land is currently protected by UPDF soldiers and even though family members have been petitioning Gen. Mbadi, he has done nothing. There is another Gen. who is grabbing land in Acholi and WestNile, and even though locals petitioned Mbadi, nothing has been done.
When Museveni met the media at the end of 2023 in State House Entebbe, he warned soldiers to stop being involved in land matters. He issued a statement guiding the public on how Brig. Gen. Moses Lukyamuzi’s State House Task Force on Land Matters should operate.
Highly placed sources in State House unveiled that to streamline and clear for Muhoozi, Museveni first legalised the Army Establishment Document which placed all its elements under the command of the CDF.
Museveni was also very calculative when removing Lt. Gen. Peter Elwelu from the Office of the Deputy CDF to replace him with Lt. Gen. Sam Okiding.
In other developments, Maj. Gen. Eric Leopard Kyanda was also dropped as Joint Chief of Staff and replaced with Maj. Gen. Jackson Bakasumba because Gen. Muhoozi needs new people to help him clean the army system.
Lt. Gen. Elwelu was appointed Presidential Senior Advisor and he is going to remain an army representative in parliament. Museveni also appointed trained lawyer Jacob Oboth Oboth as the Defense minister replacing Vincent Ssempijja who was fired and appointed a Senior presidential advisor without designation.
