Gen Muhoozi’s son Ruhamya (L) at the commissioning ceremony in Kabamba this Tuesday 20th October, 2026
By Joseph Kiggundu
MUBENDE. Chief of Defense Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s son Ruhamya Kainerugaba is among the new 280 Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) officer cadets passed out by President Museveni at Uganda Military Academy-Kabamba in Mubende District on Tuesday .
Ruhamya is among officers trained at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom together with Andrew Bakira. Four others trained in India.
Outstanding cadets received awards for their performance before the new officers took the oaths of allegiance and secrecy. Lt. Col. John Mugarura commanded the parade.
Mr Museveni thanked the cadets’ families, the academy’s instructors and the UPDF leadership for supporting their training, emphasising discipline, commitment and sound leadership in military service.
He urged the cadets to remain disciplined and focused on their military careers.
Museveni, 82 who is also Commander-in-Chief of the UPDF, said the officers were beginning a long journey of service whose success would depend on their commitment and ability to avoid distractions.
“First of all, congratulations to the graduates. You have started a long journey in a very honourable organisation, the UPDF. If you do your part and don’t get diverted, you will make a good contribution,” he said.
The ceremony covered Officer Cadets Intake 09/26 and Bachelor of Defence Studies Intake 05/23/29.
Those commissioned included 187 professionals who began training in February 2026, 87 Bachelor of Defence Studies cadets who started on September 18, 2023, and six cadets trained abroad.
Eleven of the newly commissioned officers were women.
The President also linked Uganda’s defence capabilities to the strength of its economy, saying productive sectors must be protected to sustain an effective military.
“Recently, I was talking to the CDFs from a number of countries, and I told them that to have a strong and effective defence of the country, you need a number of factors. One of them is a strong economy which will be able to support a strong army,” he said.
He urged military leaders to work with relevant institutions to identify and address threats to wealth creation in commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services and information and communication technology.
Turning to rural security, Museveni called for firm action against thieves targeting livestock acquired through the Parish Development Model (PDM), saying such crimes undermine efforts to improve household incomes.
“When you get thieves stealing the goats and cows from the farmers which have been given by the PDM, that’s sabotage. It shouldn’t be tolerated,” he said.
He urged security agencies to ensure that farmers benefiting from government programmes can build wealth without fear of losing their assets.
The ceremony was attended by Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba and his wife, Charlotte Kainerugaba; Uganda Military Academy-Kabamba Commandant Brig. Gen. Saad Katemba; and other senior military officers.