Uganda's First Son Muhoozi Promoted to Army General

Lieutenant-General Muhoozi Kainerugaba has been dropped as the Commander of Uganda’s Land Forces, a day after he sparked a storm on social media when he tweeted about capturing the Kenyan capital Nairobi, a statement the government has distanced itself from.

But, President Yoweri Museveni’s son has been promoted to the rank of full general.

Major General Kayanja Muhanga, the commander of the ongoing Shujaa operation in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo against Ugandan rebels, Allied Democratic Forces, has been promoted to Lt-Gen and appointed to replace the First Son.

Gen Muhoozi, who made indications of leaving his post early Tuesday morning, said he had discussed with his father, the President, and that changes would be announced. He also edited his Twitter handle, removing the post of land forces commander.

The Uganda army spokesperson, Brigadier General Felix Kulayigye, confirmed the changes to The EastAfrican this afternoon.

Who is Gen Muhoozi?

Muhoozi was born in 1974 in Dar es Salaam. His early education was in Tanzania, and later at Mount Kenya Academy in Nyeri, Kenya and in Sweden. When Museveni took power in 1986, the family returned to Uganda, and Muhoozi attended the Kampala Parents School, King’s College Budo and St Mary’s College Kisubi.In 1999, Muhoozi joined the Uganda People’s Defence Force as an officer cadet and graduated in 2000 from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He later attended the Egyptian Military Academy. He also attended the Kalama Armoured Warfare Training School. He later took a one-year course at the US Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, graduating in June 2008.

Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba