Ugandan President Museveni appoints son as head of army

Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has appointed his son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba as the new head of the army, the Defence Ministry said on Friday.

The ministry said in a statement he replaces Wilson Mbasu Mbadi, who was removed and appointed as a junior minister.

President Museveni removed his son as commander of Uganda’s land forces after he threatened to invade neighboring Kenya and expressed support for Russia in the Ukraine war in posts on X (formerly Twitter).

Kainerugaba, 48, has long been viewed as being prepared to take over the presidency from his father, 79, who has ruled the east African country for nearly 40 years.