Uganda military denies president’s son, seen as potential successor, has resigned

KAMPALA (Reuters) – Uganda’s army mentioned on Monday that President Yoweri Museveni’s son, a lieutenant normal who stood down for what many imagine to be a bid to succeed his long-ruling father, had not in actual fact resigned.

Muhoozi Kainerugaba introduced on Twitter on March 8 that he had retired from the army after greater than 20 years’ service.

The transfer was extensively interpreted as an indication that Kainerugaba, commander of the army’s land forces, was making ready to enter politics on a potential path to contest the presidency within the subsequent election in 2026.

“The final has not retired from the military, he’s nonetheless in lively service,” Chris Magezi, spokesman for the land forces, informed Reuters.

“The military promotions and the commissions board which is the army physique mandated with dealing with retirement requests has not obtained his software.”

Ugandan legislation bars serving troopers from taking part in politics. Kainerugaba, 47, has himself not mentioned whether or not he desires to run for president however his supporters have been conducting on-line and road campaigns selling his candidature.

Museveni, 77, Africa’s fourth longest-ruling president, has lengthy been pilloried by the opposition and rights teams for utilizing the army to subdue his opponents via intimidation, beatings or jail phrases. Officers deny the accusations.

He was declared winner in opposition to his essential opponent, pop star-turned-politician Bobi Wine, after an election in January final 12 months that was marked by violence.

Wine rejected the outcomes as fraudulent and america and European Union mentioned the polls weren’t free and truthful.

In an indication of what critics name rising repression by Museveni’s authorities, a outstanding Ugandan creator was detained in December final 12 months and subsequently charged with communications offences associated to his tweets that criticised Kainerugaba and his father.

The creator, Kakwenza Rukirabashaija, has since fled to exile in Germany.

(Reporting by Elias Biryabarema; Modifying by Nick Macfie)