The Minister for Agriculture, Animal industry and Fisheries Frank Tumwebaze attributes Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s rise to fame to individuals he referred to as “failures” on Uganda’s political stage, who provoked him to join politics.
Tumwebaze made the remarks on Tuesday as leaders of the MK Movement -a political pressure group led by Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba rebranded with a new name; the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU).
A serving military officer, Gen. Muhoozi is a son to President Yoweri Museveni. He also serves as a presidential advisor on special operations to president Museveni.
Speaking at the event, Minister Tumwebaze took a swipe at people opposed to Gen. Muhoozi’s involvement into politics saying they are the ones who provoked him, in the first place, to join politics.
Frank Tumwebaze defended the emergence of MK -now PLU, saying the political formations are a consequence of consistent attacks on Gen. Muhoozi coming from big shots in the NRM government right from when he was still a young man up to today.
“Ever since he (Gen. MK) started the soldiering profession, he is a man under attack. He has been targeted and abused for nothing. When this man chose to seve as LDU, he was abused by big people in politics; When he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant, he was again targeted by people claiming he was being groomed to succeed his father; When he was fighting in Congo they also said he was not fighting and it was a lie. Then the MK group got tired of somebody offering service to his country becoming a punching bag of political failures” Minister Tumwebaze said in his speech.
“When I hear people saying; how can a soldier be in politics iyiii! “In science, any action triggers reaction that is opposite… It’s you who put him into politics! Nobody else. If your reason is contending with Museveni for power, why attack Gen. MK?” He queried.
Gen. MK’s rise rise in military rank and to the political stage has been opposed by sections of Ugandans with some questioning the legality considering he is still a serving army officer, in contravention with the existing law.
While President Museveni has not publicly endorsed his son as his successor, others pose a moral question of why President Museveni, who has been in power for the last 38 years, would groom his son to take over from him.
At the launch of PLU, NRM National Vice Chairman Capt. Mike Mukula expressed appreciation to the individuals behind the new formation showing justification for the initiative as to have the young cadres in PLU take over power from the old guard (in NRM) as was a case in Cuba, North Korea and other countries.
“I want to thank my big brother @Mukulaa for officiating at the Patriotic League of Uganda’s Proclamation Ceremony today. He spoke very well. I want to thank our millions of supporters and well wishers for helping us reach this milestone. Uganda will be great! Safari imeanza tu!” Gen. Muhoozi posted on X after the event.