President Yoweri Museveni’s son, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has placed Uganda’s political succession at the center of a military crackdown that has seen at least a dozen senior officers detained over the past 15 months.
The core dispute centers on who will follow Museveni, 82, who has governed Uganda since 1986 following a five-year guerrilla campaign by his National Resistance Army that brought him to power.
Taking the oath of office for a seventh elected presidential term earlier this year, Museveni pushed his governance into a fifth decade.
Gen Kainerugaba, 52, has been viewed as a potential heir and has made clear he intends to seek the presidency in 2031, when his father’s current term is due to end. He leads the Patriotic League of Uganda, a political movement that has mobilized support around his leadership. He was appointed army chief in March 2024, after previously commanding the Special Forces Command, which is responsible for protecting the president and strategic installations.
“Senior officers believed not to support the project have been arrested, detained or charged with corruption and treason,” Dr Gerald Bareebe, a Ugandan-born political scientist at Canada's York University, told the BBC.
Bareebe said the developments are part of an effort by the army chief to extend his influence into civilian politics.
“The result is a broad purge that has affected both serving and retired officers perceived to be anti-Muhoozi,” Dr Gerald Bareebe, a Ugandan-born political scientist at Canada's York University, said.
The crackdown within the armed forces has targeted prominent commanders.
The detention of Lt Gen Peter Elwelu brought the operations into sharper focus.
His fall from grace followed social media posts by Gen Kainerugaba accusing him of treachery.
The traitor Peter Elwelu is hereby stripped of his ranks. He is demoted to Private.
Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba
The army later confirmed Elwelu’s detention, stating they recovered 15 guns, military uniforms, and two pickup trucks linked to him.
Based on an investigation by Uganda’s Daily Monitor newspaper, Elwelu forms part of a group of at least a dozen generals and senior officers held in detention since April 2025.
Other high-profile figures arrested include Maj Gen James Birungi, a former head of defence intelligence and security, who was arrested on allegations including corruption and treason. He was charged before a military court but later released after Gen Kainerugaba announced he had forgiven him.
Another former intelligence chief, Maj Gen Abel Kandiho, was detained over allegations of providing false intelligence and treachery, while Gen Charles Bakahumura was arrested over similar allegations.
Tensions also spilled into the civilian leadership when Gen Kainerugaba turned his attention to Vice-Jessica Alupo, demanding to take her job in a series of posts on X before his account became inaccessible.
Whoever is in that office should prepare to hand it over soon.
Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba
He also questioned Alupo’s loyalty, threatened her dismissal, and added that the government would operate on military terms if he became his father’s deputy.
Alupo remains in office and has not responded publicly.
Meanwhile, the ruling National Resistance Movement has rejected reports of a fallout.
Government spokesperson Allan Kasujja dismissed the claims of a succession struggle as hogwash.
The government continues to defend its security operations as lawful and necessary to maintain stability, reflecting rule under Museveni since 1986.
