Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba under fire in Uganda’s parliament

Govt defends First Son Muhoozi’s political statements

Kampala, Uganda | INDEPENDENT, URN & PARLIAMENT WATCH UGANDA  | The government has defended the Chief of Defense Forces of the UPDF Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s right to make political statements.

Over the weekend, Muhoozi made several political comments using his X page. In one of the posts, Muhoozi said he would not contest the presidency in 2026 but would instead support his father Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

“I would like to announce that I will not be on the ballot paper in 2026. Almighty God told me to focus on His Army first. So, I fully endorse President Yoweri Museveni in the next elections,” Muhoozi said.

In another tweet, Muhoozi said no civilian would lead Uganda after President Museveni. He said the security forces will not allow it.

“The next leader will be a soldier or policeman,” Muhoozi said.

Deputy Attorney General Jackson Kafuzi and the Minister for Information and National Guidance Chris Baryomunsi said like any other citizen, Gen Muhoozi has a right to all freedoms enshrined in the Bill of Rights.

Kafuzi particularly said the constitution and the UPDF act that bars serving army officers from engaging in partisan politics don’t in any way take away a person’s right to freedom of expression and conscience.

“Article 208 which says UPDF shall be subject to civilian authority doesn’t take away a right to have an opinion, freedom of expression. The rights and freedoms enshrined in Article. Chapter 4 of the Constitution is one in which the Bill or rights is enshrined and at no time does the Constitution that Article 208 ousts Chapter 4 of the Constitution. Being a military man, doesn’t put you outside the ambits of Chapter 4 of the Constitution. You retain the right to express yourself, you form a right to form an opinion,” remarked Kafuuzi.

Minister Baryomunsi had also defended Muhoozi, saying that he makes political statements on his behalf and not on behalf of the UPDF and government.

“In government, there is a formal way how government officers communicate for that to be an official communication…I speak for government but I can’t just be at a party and conversing and then take my conversation to be a government policy. What Gen Muhoozi Kinerugaba commented was just a casual comment which we don’t take. There is a formal way through which UPDF communicates,” Baryomunsi said.

Speaking today in Parliament, David Kabanda, the MP for Kasambya and Secretary General of the Patriotic League of Uganda, Muhoozi’s political pressure group denied Muhoozi making the statements.

Deputy Attorney General, Jackson Kafuuzi has defended Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s utterances that the Army will not allow any civilian to rule Uganda and his further endorsement of President Museveni, arguing that the Chief of Defence Forces has freedom of expression and a right to… pic.twitter.com/yxZ8e1pOYw

— Parliament Watch (@pwatchug) September 24, 2024

I was the Shadow Minister responsible for Defence and I put this question to the delegation of UPDF, that we have a serving military officer who appears to be above the law. When I begun to ask the question former Defence Minister Vincent Ssempijja felt some cold and rushed out,… https://t.co/BcrHH9BBsV pic.twitter.com/h7ozwdM1Ga

— Parliament Watch (@pwatchug) September 24, 2024

Kafuuzi’s remarks followed a request made by Ssemujju Nganda (Kira Municipality) asking Deputy Speaker, Tayebwa to demand Government to explain why of all soldiers in Uganda, Muhoozi has been allowed to violate various provisions of the law, to the extent of threatening to… https://t.co/XUW2A8Y2Kv pic.twitter.com/sSlfhtCm1j

— Parliament Watch (@pwatchug) September 24, 2024

Jonathan Odur (Erute South) while contributing to the debate said, ” I was the Shadow Minister responsible for Defence and I put this question to the delegation of UPDF, that we have a serving military officer who appears to be above the law. When I begun to ask the question former Defence Minister Vincent Ssempijja felt some cold and rushed out, Marksons Oboth the State Minister for Defence then, immediately got a call and rushed out saying I am coming back literally running away.”

He then asked the then CDF Wilson Mbadi who had the command. ” I asked him, as the Army Commander, can’t you issue orders. The CDF told me….. Do not cause me trouble. And said, please, leave me alone,” Jonathan Odur told parliament.

“The UPDF has its own Code of Conduct, has its own disciplinary procedures. If any member of the UPDF violates their code of conduct, they are subjected to their disciplinary action. I have seen Generals going there, I have seen senior officers going there. So, I don’t want Parliament to turn itself into an investigative body, before the Institution can utilize its own mechanisms in case there was a problem. Really, I am not going to refer this matter to the Committee for investigation, ”  Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa said.

This after fiery MPs  Wilfred Niwagaba, and Sseggona had called for Muhoozi’s remarks to subjected to a Parliamentary investigation.

Niwagaba, Shadow Attorney General questioned Kafuuzi’s legal prowess wondering how a top Government advisor would defend utterances made by Muhoozi, which he says violate the Constitution and other provisions in the Uganda People’s Defence Forces Act, the same Force that he commands.

“All along I thought I went to the same Law School as my learned friend, until today. Well, I am not saying that I am disappointed because he has expressed his opinion, but I think it is vulgarizing a very important matter that Ssemujju has raised. 

Sseggona had said: “I thought that the right way of dealing with this would be referring this matter for an investigation irrespective of who is involved because it is about our lives, it is about the safety of everybody in this country, it is a matter that should be investigated.”

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