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Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba has made another major statement about his political ambitions, saying that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni will serve as his campaign manager. The announcement came shortly after Muhoozi publicly declared his intention to seek the presidency, adding a new dimension to the political conversation surrounding his future.
Muhoozi made the statement through a brief post on Twitter, now known as X, in which he appeared to reveal who he expects to play a central role in his presidential campaign. “Mzee will be my campaign manager,” he posted, using the familiar term “Mzee” when referring to President Museveni.
The statement immediately draws attention because Museveni is not only Uganda’s sitting president but also Muhoozi’s father. Their political relationship has been closely watched for years, particularly because Muhoozi has increasingly become more outspoken about his political aspirations and the future of leadership in Uganda.
By identifying Museveni as his campaign manager, Muhoozi appears to be placing his father at the centre of the political project he is now presenting to Ugandans. The short statement did not provide details about what responsibilities Museveni would personally undertake or how such a campaign arrangement would be structured.
Muhoozi’s announcement comes at a politically significant moment following his decision to openly communicate his presidential ambitions. For years, there has been public discussion about whether he would eventually seek Uganda’s highest political office, with supporters frequently describing him as part of a new generation of leadership.
The latest declaration removes some of the uncertainty surrounding his own intentions. Rather than simply being discussed as a possible future candidate, Muhoozi is now openly presenting himself as someone preparing for a presidential contest, while also identifying the person he says will manage his campaign.
Museveni’s involvement would carry considerable political symbolism because of his long experience in Ugandan politics. He has been involved in presidential campaigns for decades and has built a political network that extends across the country, making his name highly significant in any discussion about a major national campaign.
Muhoozi’s decision to describe Museveni as his campaign manager could therefore be interpreted by his supporters as a sign of confidence in the political experience available to him. It also signals that the relationship between the two may remain an important part of Muhoozi’s political story as he seeks to build support.
The announcement also follows Muhoozi’s recent efforts to mobilise political support through the Patriotic League of Uganda, commonly known as PLU. He has thanked Members of Parliament who have supported the movement and has announced ambitious plans to collect millions of endorsement signatures.
Muhoozi recently said that the journey had begun and that his team wanted to secure 20 million endorsement signatures by September next year. He also announced plans for women to have their own endorsement book, saying that the women’s voice would be heard during the mobilisation exercise.
The endorsement target gives a sense of the scale of the political organisation Muhoozi says he wants to build. His latest statement about Museveni adds another important element to that strategy, with the veteran president being presented as the person who could guide the campaign.
The timing of the announcement is also notable because political campaigns require organisation, messaging and extensive mobilisation. Muhoozi’s comments suggest that his political preparations are moving beyond individual declarations and toward a broader effort involving supporters, legislators and structures associated with PLU.
For his supporters, having Museveni as campaign manager could be viewed as a powerful advantage. They may see the president’s experience in national politics as an important resource for a campaign seeking to reach voters in every region of Uganda.
However, Muhoozi’s statement was very brief and did not explain whether Museveni has formally accepted such a role. The announcement should therefore be understood as Muhoozi’s stated intention rather than as confirmation of a formally announced campaign arrangement.
The relationship between Muhoozi and Museveni has already been a major subject of public discussion because Muhoozi has frequently spoken about his political future. His latest statement further places their political relationship in the spotlight as Uganda watches how his presidential ambitions develop.
Museveni has been Uganda’s dominant political figure for decades, and any suggestion that he could personally manage a future presidential campaign is therefore likely to attract considerable attention. It would also make the transition from one political generation to another an even more prominent subject of national debate.
Muhoozi, meanwhile, continues to present himself as a leader capable of mobilising a new generation of Ugandans. His emphasis on PLU, parliamentary support, mass endorsements and women’s participation suggests that he wants to create a broad political platform around his presidential ambitions.
The proposed campaign role for Museveni could also become one of the defining features of Muhoozi’s political message. Rather than distancing himself from the political figure who has dominated Uganda’s politics for decades, Muhoozi appears to be embracing his father’s experience and placing it directly within his own campaign plans.
Much will depend on what happens next as Muhoozi’s political preparations continue. His supporters will be looking toward the endorsement exercise, further political announcements and the development of campaign structures, while the wider public will continue to debate what his presidential bid could mean for Uganda’s political future.
For now, however, Muhoozi has made his position clear in a short but striking message: “Mzee will be my campaign manager.” The statement has added another major talking point to his newly announced presidential bid and placed President Museveni’s possible role at the centre of the growing discussion about Muhoozi’s political ambitions.
