By Black Star News
In July 2017, while at the funeral of former Kampala Mayor John Ssebaana-Kizito, Gen. Yoweri Museveni said that unlike the fallen mayor emeritus—who once headed Uganda’s oldest 1954-founded opposition Democratic Party—other members of the opposition in the country are just “eaters”; implying unprincipled and opportunistic politicians familiar with most ‘opposition’ leaders in the country. Again in the same year following the scrapping of the presidential age limits from the Constitution that December, Museveni boasted that “there is no genuine opposition in Uganda”. Then in 2016, Museveni promised that by 2021, “opposition will be wiped out”. And while on the campaign trail for the January 2021 general elections, Museveni declared in 2020: “There is no opposition in Uganda which I can’t defeat”.
He would again reiterate the same position in January 2026 after being declared winner of that presidential contest that “Otherwise, there is practically no opposition in Uganda. The pro-People record of the NRM [the ruling party, National Resistance Movement] in Uganda, does not allow a credible, truthful opposition to thrive,” Museveni said in a statement shared on X claiming his ruling NRM commands over 88% of the country’s true support and that a credible opposition cannot thrive.
True to his word, prominent members of the opposition have either been jailed, co-opted into government or forced into exile; inevitably leaving no room for a formidable opposition grouping to indeed thrive in Uganda.
But what goes around comes around: The race to State House in 2031 when Uganda goes to yet another presidential polling day is quickly precipitating into an in-house “tag-of-war” as the political clouds gather in the First Family.
“An elder recently told me; ‘The terrain has changed. Supporters of M7 [Museveni] are now considered opposition’. I didn’t give it a second thought until I saw some tweets here warning Hon. @millybabalanda that her career had ended because of these remarks. The struggle is real,” Social Security Activist, Ian Gumisizira shares on X, September 3.
Addressing ruling party leaders at an ongoing five-day retreat ending on September 4, Presidency minister Milly Babalanda declared that Museveni— whom she said has come to stay—has to finish the war on corruption. “Museveni came to stay. We are here to stay. Nothing can end his leadership. We will stay with you until 2031 and beyond,” Babalanda told the NRM leaders on September 1. “Therefore,” she emphasized, “he [Museveni] is here in 2031 and beyond to finish the unfinished business.”
But, according to Museveni’s son’s Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s political outfit—the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU)’s head of Chairman Muhoozi’s Office, David Kabanda on September 3; “Ignore the noise from Kyankwanzi [where Babalanda addressed the retreat of NRM leaders]. There’s no competition at all. TUKO PAMOJA [Kiswahili for we are together].”
The NRM secretary-general, Richard Todwong, meanwhile, is said to have headed to the retreat on September 3 morning with a banner for a full endorsement by members participating in the NRM 2026-2031 manifesto implementation retreat.
Museveni himself, however, said on August 30; “I think I will still be around in 2036, and I will be with you. I am 80 years old, and my daughters recently told me I am likely to reach 100 years. That means I still have about 20 years on earth. Then I will leave and go to heaven.” Museveni has always wished to clock a whole Century on earth, and perhaps in State House.
However, in what is now seriously solidifying and boiling into a family struggle for the presidency with NRM morphing into the opposition, no sooner had Babalanda voiced her praises for Museveni than the latter’s son’s political outfit —PLU—endorsed Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba for the country’s top office in 2031. “General Muhoozi Kainerugaba has told me to inform you that he will run for President 2031–2036,” Kabanda told the press and PLU-aligned, but ruling NRM-elected MPs on September 1 at their offices in Kampala. Chief of Defense Forces Gen. Muhoozi chairs PLU in total contravention of the laws governing Uganda.
According to Kabanda, Museveni has indicated willingness to support and endorse his son, Gen. Muhoozi (above) for the presidency in 2031-2036. “I would like to also let you know that His Excellency the President has promised to endorse Afande MK [Muhoozi Kainerugaba] come the next general elections in 2031,” Kabanda claimed. Afande is a Swahili salutation of respect accorded to senior members of the disciplined forces. “The momentum is unstoppable, the 20M signatures target is in sight,” Kabanda went on to add on September 2.
In his on-going feud with his brother-in-law, Odrek Rwabwogo—also seen as a formidable First Family contender for the presidency— Gen. Muhoozi was forced to book his place in State House. “I will stand for the highest office in the land in 2031. And we will win by the grace of Almighty God,” Gen. Kainerugaba promised on X, August 25; in what political analysts interpreted as the ‘Rwabwogo Effect’. Rwabwogo—whom Muhoozi once described as “Uganda’s biggest thief” —marries Museveni’s second daughter, Patience. Rwabwogo is associated with reforming his father-in-law’s ruling NRM, respect for human rights and freedom of speech, among other democratic credentials under his belt.
“A day after Museveni told an audience he will ‘be around’ in 2031—next elections—his son, through his team, announced his own bid for 2031. In politics, nothing is off limits. So, I wouldn’t be surprised if Uganda gets her own Raila/Jaramogi moment in the coming years….” predicts lawyer Godwin Toko on X alluding to Kenya’s former opposition doyens, Raila Odinga and his father Jaramogi Oginga-Odinga.
Former prime minister Raila joined politics where his father, Jaramogi, was Kenya’s first-ever post-independence vice-president who later fell out with his boss, Kenya’s first president Jomo Kenyatta following a betrayal of trust. Whereas the British colonialists who had jailed Kenyatta wanted Jaramogi to become Kenya’s first post-independence president, the self-less Jaramogi declined the coveted office declaring that “his brother” Kenyatta should be released to lead the country. In return, Kenyatta would only kick the ladder he used to climb to the highest office in the land.
Submits Kampala Deputy Lord Mayoress Emeritus, Doreen Nyanjura, on September 2: “Ugandans largely ignored MK’s 2031 presidential declaration. This is a powerful signal that the ‘MK Project’ is dead on arrival. The collective silence from ordinary citizens shows that state-orchestrated mobilization cannot easily manufacture popular legitimacy for a dynastic succession.”
