MP Sseggona: Museveni won't die soon, despite Ugandans' wishes

Medard Lubega Sseggona, the Member of Parliament for Busiro South, has refuted the beliefs of Ugandans who wish for President Museveni's demise, stating that he will not die anytime soon.

During an interview with NBS TV, Sseggona emphasized that appointing his son, Gen Muhoozi, as the Chief of Defense Force indicates that Museveni does not want his son to contest for the presidency in 2026.

"He has calculated that his son will contest in 2031. He might be predicting that he could be dead between now and 2031. I don't know who misled him into thinking that God's plans work that way," Sseggona said.

He further expressed his desire for Museveni to grow old and witness good governance while suffering the consequences.

"First of all, Museveni will not die now. We should let him grow old, and he should experience the consequences while we govern this country well. That is my prayer. He should remain alive," Sseggona stated.

Sseggona also explained Museveni's intentions to establish his son in a prominent position within the army, so that when he retires by 2031, the army would perceive him as a former army leader.

This, according to Sseggona, is a reflection of Museveni's ego.

With Gen Muhoozi now in charge, Sseggona expressed concerns that the country is heading towards a catastrophic situation.

"Now that he is in charge, we are all in danger. We are like a ticking time bomb," he warned.

In a recent cabinet reshuffle, President Museveni appointed Muhoozi, as the new Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), replacing Gen Wilson Mbasu Mbadi, who assumed the role of Minister of State for Trade.

Gen Kainerugaba had previously served as his father's senior presidential advisor in charge of special operations.

Speculation has arisen that this move is part of Museveni's plan to groom his son as his successor. However, Kainerugaba has denied claims that he is eyeing the presidency.

In recent times, Kainerugaba has been holding rallies across the country, which violates a law prohibiting serving army officers from engaging in partisan politics.

Nonetheless, he insists that his activities, including the launch of the nonpartisan activist group called the Patriotic League of Uganda, are not politically driven.

Museveni, who seized power in 1986, has been elected six times and faces no significant rivals within the ruling National Resistance Movement party.

Consequently, there is speculation that the military may play a role in determining his successor.

Supporters of Kainerugaba argue that his ascent to power could facilitate a peaceful transfer of power in Uganda, potentially the first since the country gained independence in 1962. However, critics contend that his rise signifies a move towards hereditary rule.

Kainerugaba's swift rise through the ranks of the army, known as the "Muhoozi Project," began in the late 1990s.

While both Museveni and Kainerugaba deny the existence of a scheme to propel him to the presidency, his appointment as army chief, accompanied by a ministerial reshuffle, suggests a transition may be underway.

Although Kainerugaba's position as the heir apparent has long been evident to many Ugandans, the government has taken a stern stance against any public discussion on the matter in the past.

In 2013, two independent newspapers and two radio stations were shut down for ten days by the police after publishing a leaked confidential memo by a senior general, alleging that Museveni was grooming Kainerugaba to succeed him.

As a high-ranking military official, Kainerugaba is prohibited from publicly discussing political matters.

However, he has frequently waded into controversial discussions, causing diplomatic tensions in Uganda. He was previously removed from his position as commander of land forces after jokingly threatening to invade neighbouring Kenya.

Despite the disagreements and controversies, Museveni has defended his son, praising him as a "very good general" and promoting him to the rank of general shortly after the Kenya incident.