IN PICTURES: Masaka in a standstill as Muhoozi tours
Features
Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba acknowledges cheers from the crowd in Masaka City on Friday. The First Son and senior presidential advisor on special operations started his countrywide mobilisation for the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) with the much-anticipated rally at Masaka Liberation Square in Masaka City.
The PLU was launched last month, embracing members from across the political divide, including senior officials from the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) that is led by Muhoozi's father President Museveni. There remains a big debate on whether Mr Museveni will be on the ballot in 2026 to continue his 40-year supremacy even as the NRM maintains they have no other candidate but man who led them in the five-year guerilla war.
Muhoozi's arrival in Masaka City was greeted by a mammoth crowd. For a city that is the birthplace and stronghold of the main Opposition party, the National Unity Platform led by pop-politician Robert Kyagulanyi, the mobilisation of Muhoozi's event appears to have touched the right buttons as a huge crowd grounded the procession to a standstill in the city.
In 2022, Gen Muhoozi announced his presidential ambition on then Twitter (now X) saying "In the name of Jesus Christ my God, in the name of all the young people of Uganda and the world and in the name of our great revolution, I will stand for the Presidency in 2026!” He would later delete the tweet but that did not take away the widespread feeling that he was preparing to take over the mantle from his father.
Muhoozi, who will be 50 on April 24, has largely led a quiet life within the military although, like most introverts, he appeared to take solace in social media site, Twitter (now X), where he largely shared his political views, some too strong for regional diplomacy.
In January 2022, Lt Gen Muhoozi visited Kigali. The visit came nearly three years after after Rwanda and Uganda fell out with the diplomatic relations hitting rock bottom and leading to border closures between the two country. Rwanda accused Uganda of supporting rebel groups in order to destabilize Rwanda. Uganda, meanwhile, accused the Rwanda government of spying. After Muhoozi's visit, Kigali said in statement it had taken note there is a process to solve issues raised by Rwanda, as well as commitments made by the Ugandan government to address remaining obstacles.
Events guru Balaam Barugahare (left) has not taken off his famous orange polo shirt since swore allegiance to Muhoozi and in Masaka, he led a group of mobilisers and security detail in sweeping ahead of the convoy.
Unsettled sociopolitical commentator Frank Gashumba appears to have finally got someone he can commit his loyalty to. He is only of the public figures who has been drumming up support for Muhoozi both on social media and the conventional media.
Bikers and boda boda operators were also in full force ahead of the procession in Masaka City. While Museveni and Muhoozi are yet to tell the nation which side of the cake is being baked for 2026, the strong mobilisation from Muhoozi's PLU group appears to leave a statement of what to expect.
