Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has announced that he will personally oversee Kampala’s road budget and determine who builds and repairs roads in the capital, escalating debate over the military’s expanding role in civilian infrastructure management.
In a series of posts published Monday on X, Gen. Muhoozi said the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) would take charge of fixing Kampala’s deteriorating roads and drainage systems following years of corruption and poor urban planning.
“I shall say one more thing today. The entire budget for roads in Kampala will be under my control (CDF). I will determine who builds and repairs roads,” Muhoozi posted on his official account.
The First Son and senior military commander also blamed persistent flooding in Kampala on decades of corruption, accusing city leaders of allowing construction in wetlands and failing to establish proper drainage systems.
“You allow thieves to never build drainage systems in Kampala for 40 years, then you allow them to build in God’s natural drainage system…the wetlands! Why wouldn’t Kampala flood?” he wrote.
He added: “From now on stealing from Kampala will be equivalent to stealing from Jesus Christ! They will pay.”
The remarks come amid renewed public frustration over severe flooding, potholes and deteriorating road infrastructure across Kampala following heavy rains in recent weeks.
Muhoozi further declared that the UPDF was now “taking charge” of the city’s infrastructure transformation and promised Kampala would soon have “the best roads and pavements in Africa.”
“Floods in Kampala have been caused by 40 years of corruption in the city. We had idiots like Lukwago for 25 years! That is changing now. UPDF is taking charge,” he posted, referring to former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago.
The statements quickly sparked intense debate online, with supporters praising what they described as a decisive anti-corruption intervention in Kampala’s failing infrastructure sector.
Some users cited previous UPDF-led engineering projects, including road works and emergency infrastructure responses, arguing that military involvement could improve efficiency and reduce theft of public funds.
Others, however, raised concerns about the growing militarisation of civilian governance and questioned whether the Chief of Defence Forces legally holds authority over Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) budgets and procurement systems.
As of Tuesday morning, neither the government nor Kampala Capital City Authority had issued a formal directive transferring control of Kampala’s road budget to the military.
Under existing law, Kampala’s roads and drainage systems are managed by KCCA under the supervision of the Ministry of Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs.
The UPDF has in recent years increasingly participated in civilian infrastructure and public works projects, including road construction, market rehabilitation and emergency disaster response operations.
The latest comments from Muhoozi come at a politically sensitive moment as Uganda’s government faces mounting criticism over corruption, urban flooding and deteriorating public services in the capital.
Political analysts say the remarks are likely to deepen national debate over governance, accountability and the expanding influence of the military in civilian administration.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has previously defended the use of military institutions in civilian projects, arguing that the UPDF offers discipline and efficiency in executing national programs.
