Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba is set to contest for President of Uganda in the 2031 general elections, PLU Chairman and Kasambya County MP Daudi Kabanda has announced.
Kabanda made the announcement on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, during a Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) press conference in Nakasero, Kampala, saying Muhoozi had personally instructed him to inform the country about his plans to seek the presidency.
According to Kabanda, Muhoozi’s decision has also been sanctioned by President Yoweri Museveni, his father and Uganda’s President.
The announcement effectively moves Muhoozi’s 2031 ambitions from social media declarations into an organised political mobilisation campaign through PLU structures.
Kabanda told the gathering that PLU had already started an endorsement campaign for Muhoozi, with a target of collecting 19 million signatures from Ugandans supporting his presidential bid.
The meeting brought together a number of Members of Parliament, political leaders and PLU supporters who ululated immediately Kabanda made the formal announcement.
Kabanda declared those who attended the gathering the “historicals” of PLU, saying their participation had given them a special place in the organisation’s political mobilisation.
He also said Muhoozi had intended to make a surprise appearance at the meeting but was unable to attend because of an urgent official engagement.
Kabanda said Muhoozi had instead authorised a private meeting with those who had attended the press conference.
Following the announcement, Muhoozi has posted on his official X platform, reiterating the collection of endorsement signatures by September 2027.
He further says that women will be priotrized in this exercise
“I want to thank all the members of Parliament who came out today to support PLU. The journey has begun. We want 20 million endorsement signatures by September next year. Furthermore, women will have their own endorsement book. The women’s voice will be heard. “he said
Muhoozi’s latest presidential declaration has revived the long-running debate over Uganda’s political succession and the possibility of a transfer of power from President Museveni to his eldest son.
Muhoozi, who is currently Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), has been associated with presidential ambitions for several years.
In 2023, he publicly announced his intention to contest for President in the 2026 elections. However, in September 2024, he withdrew from the 2026 race, saying he would instead concentrate on his military responsibilities and endorsing Museveni for another term.
Museveni subsequently contested the January 2026 presidential election and secured another term in office.
Muhoozi remained outside the presidential race but became increasingly prominent in Uganda’s political affairs through his leadership of PLU and his position as CDF.
His declaration to run in 2031 now places him at the centre of the country’s next succession debate. However, the 2031 presidential election is still several years away, and no formal presidential nomination process has begun.
Muhoozi would also have to leave the military before contesting for elective political office.
Ugandan law restricts serving members of the armed forces from engaging in partisan politics and requires an officer who intends to seek elective political office to first leave the military in accordance with the law.
The timing of, if his eventual retirement or resignation from the UPDF therefore remains a key issue if he proceeds with the presidential bid.
Another major question is the position of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
Although Kabanda says Museveni has sanctioned Muhoozi’s 2031 ambitions, Museveni has not publicly announced that he will not seek another term after his current mandate.
The NRM will ultimately have to determine its presidential candidate for the 2031 election through its internal processes.
For now, PLU’s announcement marks the beginning of an early mobilisation campaign around Muhoozi’s presidential ambitions.
