Gen Otafiire’s son rules out presidential ambitions

Ernesto asked on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, not to be involved in the “nonsense” that had started spreading on social media

He further stressed that being a son of a general does not entitle him to any political office, as appears to be the general sentiment recently around the country.

“It isn’t written anywhere that Generals or sons of Generals have exclusive rights to be presidents of Uganda,” he tweeted.

“Any Ugandan citizen who the people vote for, whether competent or not , can be President. I am a soldier not a politician , kindly don’t involve me in your nonsense.”

Ernesto, a military trainee at the famous Sandhurst Military Academy in the UK, was responding to a claim that his father had fronted him as a potential successor to President Museveni.

Gen Kahinda Otafiire is openly opposed to President Museveni’s son, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba taking over the ranks from his father.

In several interviews, Otafiire has warned his boss to avoid the “mistake” of fronting his son as his replacement.

However, Ernesto yesterday dismissed as false a tweet which claimed that Minister Otafiire had thought of him as a better pick than Muhoozi.

“My friend @Kyagulanyist, Gen.Otafiire has never uttered such a statement. My kind advice to you is to abandon the people who are manufacturing this, if it’s yourself, then don’t get caught up in other people’s wars,” Ernesto said.

With President Museveni still tightlipped on his exit plans, there appears to be a growing disagreement in the ruling NRM party on whom to front in the next presidential elections due in 2026.