KAMPALA — Uganda’s top military officer, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has revealed that his son, Private Ruhamya Kainerugaba, recently joined the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF)—adding a new generation to one of the country’s most influential military families.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday evening, Gen Muhoozi expressed deep personal pride in his son’s decision to enlist.
“I’m extremely happy to announce that after 31 years in God’s Army, the UPDF, God has blessed the House of Museveni with another soldier as of last month,” he wrote.
“Private Ruhamya Kainerugaba, may Almighty God bless him as He did me.”
This development marks the third generation of the Museveni-Kainerugaba family to actively serve in Uganda’s armed forces, reinforcing their long-standing ties to the military establishment.
A Legacy of Military Leadership
The family’s military roots date back to President Yoweri Museveni’s leadership during the 1981–1986 liberation struggle, when the National Resistance Army (NRA) waged a five-year guerrilla war that culminated in the overthrow of Milton Obote’s regime. After assuming power in 1986, Museveni formalized the NRA into the UPDF, which has since become a central pillar of the Ugandan state.
His younger brother, General Salim Saleh (Caleb Akandwanaho), played a key role in both battlefield operations and post-war military leadership.
General Muhoozi, the President’s son, enlisted in 1994 and underwent elite military training at Sandhurst Royal Military Academy (UK) and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, among other institutions. He has held several high-profile roles within the UPDF, including Commander of the Special Forces and Commander of Land Forces, and was promoted to full General in 2023.
Timing and Political Implications
Private Ruhamya’s enlistment comes amid rising political interest in General Muhoozi, who has recently been building a national support base through his Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) movement. Though officially a pressure group, the PLU has drawn widespread attention as a possible platform for a post-Museveni political transition.
The timing is significant, as Uganda gears up for the 2026 general elections, with increasing speculation about future leadership within both the military and political spheres.
Analysts view the younger Kainerugaba’s entry into the UPDF as symbolically reinforcing the Museveni family’s enduring influence over national defense and governance. Since the 1986 takeover, the military has been central not only to Uganda’s security but also to its political architecture.
Private Ruhamya’s enlistment underscores the continuity of that legacy and signals the sustained role of the Museveni lineage in shaping the country’s future.