Kampala, September 1, 2026 — Kasambya County MP Daudi Kabanda has announced that Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba will contest for Uganda’s presidency in the 2031 general elections.
Kabanda announced on Tuesday while addressing members and supporters of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), saying the decision had been communicated to him by Gen Kainerugaba.
“General Muhoozi Kainerugaba has told me to inform you that he will run for President 2031–2036,” Kabanda said.
He further said the decision had been sanctioned by President Yoweri Museveni, Gen Kainerugaba’s father and chairman of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
The announcement adds weight to Gen Kainerugaba’s own declaration last week that he intends to seek the presidency in 2031.
In a series of posts on X on August 25, the Chief of Defence Forces said he would contest for what he described as “the highest office in the land” in 2031.
He also expressed confidence about his chances, saying he expected to win with the support of his father.
The latest declaration means Gen Kainerugaba’s long-discussed political ambitions now have a specific electoral target, although the 2031 election is still several years away.
Kabanda takes message to supporters
Kabanda has been one of the most visible political figures associated with the PLU and the wider political mobilisation around Gen Kainerugaba.
His announcement came during a meeting at which PLU supporters were being organised for further engagement with the movement’s leadership.
Kabanda also introduced those attending the meeting as “historicals” of PLU and said Gen Kainerugaba had authorised a meeting with the group.
According to reports from the meeting, the MP said Gen Kainerugaba had initially intended to attend personally but was unable to do so because of an urgent official engagement. The group was instead asked to prepare for a separate meeting with him.
The gathering comes as PLU continues to reorganise its structures following the 2026 general elections.
From MK Movement to PLU
Gen Kainerugaba’s political ambitions have been discussed publicly for several years.
The movement that initially developed around him was commonly referred to as the MK Movement before the formation and expansion of PLU.
The organisation has since established structures across different parts of the country and has increasingly taken on a political role.
Daily Monitor reported in June that PLU had expanded its influence and was undergoing changes to its leadership structures, with Gen Kainerugaba appointing senior political figures to its Central Committee.
Kabanda has been an important figure in the organisation. He has previously served as PLU secretary general and has frequently communicated the movement’s position on political matters.
Museveni’s position
Kabanda’s claim that President Museveni has sanctioned his son’s planned presidential bid is likely to attract particular attention.
President Museveni has ruled Uganda since 1986 and was re-elected in the January 2026 election. His plans beyond the current term have remained a subject of political discussion.
The government has not formally announced that President Museveni will support a particular candidate for the 2031 election.
Reuters reported last week that when asked whether Museveni would seek another term, government spokesman Alan Kasujja said the President and the NRM would make that decision when the time comes.
Kabanda’s statement therefore provides a new political development in the succession debate, but does not amount to a formal NRM nomination of Gen Kainerugaba.
Muhoozi’s military position
Gen Kainerugaba’s political plans also come against the background of his position as Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces.
He currently combines a senior military position with his leadership of PLU, a situation that has attracted considerable public discussion as his political profile has grown.
His decision to contest for president in 2031 would eventually require him to comply with Uganda’s constitutional and electoral requirements for presidential candidates.
For now, however, no nomination process for the 2031 election has begun.
A clearer succession picture
The announcement by Kabanda gives greater clarity to a political question that has surrounded Gen Kainerugaba for years.
He had previously been associated with speculation about a possible 2026 presidential bid but ultimately did not contest that election. Instead, he supported his father’s re-election.
His August declaration that he would run in 2031 marked a change in position.
Kabanda’s announcement has now been presented as confirmation that the plan is being taken forward within the PLU camp.
The development is likely to keep the question of succession within the ruling establishment in the spotlight as Uganda begins the long political journey towards the 2031 elections.
For PLU, the immediate task will be to strengthen its structures and grassroots organisation. For Gen Kainerugaba, the longer-term challenge will be turning the declaration into a viable presidential campaign while navigating the political and institutional questions surrounding his current role.
For now, the message from his supporters is straightforward: Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba intends to contest for president in 2031.
