Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the 52-year-old son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, has announced his intention to contest the country’s presidency in the 2031 elections, ending years of speculation over his plans to succeed his father.
Kainerugaba made the declaration in a series of posts on X, saying, “I will stand for the highest office in the land in 2031. And we will win by the grace of Almighty God.”
He also predicted that he would secure 90 per cent of the vote with the support of his father, whom he said would serve as his campaign manager.
“Mzee will be my campaign manager,” Kainerugaba said, referring to Museveni by the honorific commonly used for him in Uganda.
Kainerugaba, who heads Uganda’s army and the Patriotic League of Uganda, a political pressure group, has for years been regarded as a potential successor to Museveni.
He had previously indicated his intention to contest the 2026 presidential election but later withdrew from the race and backed his father, who subsequently won the election.
Museveni, 81, has been in power for more than four decades. During his tenure, constitutional amendments removed presidential age and term limits, allowing him to remain in office beyond the previously prescribed limits.
It remains unclear whether Museveni intends to seek another term in 2031. However, his son’s latest declaration has made Kainerugaba’s presidential ambitions more explicit and could further fuel discussions about the country’s political succession.
