There are many positive contributions Kainerugaba has made, can still make - Museveni

Museveni effected the promotion of his son, Kainerugaba, in a reshuffle announced on Tuesday. Museveni did so in capacity as the commander in chief of the armed forces of Uganda and thereby replaced Kainerugaba with Gen Kayanja Muhanga as the Land Forces Commander.

This reshuffle is believed to have arisen out of Kainerugaba’s controversial tweets in which he said that he and “my army” would capture Kenya’s capital Nairobi in two weeks.

This mini-reshuffle shocked many Ugandans, who have since questioned the reason why Museveni decided to promote Kainerugaba despite him making reckless statements and thus appearing to be an errant officer.

Kainerugaba is known for being gung ho on social media, he had earlier been “punished” for his controversial tweets and Museveni said he would put an end to such reckless tweets.

However, in a statement on Wednesday, Museveni defended the promotion and dropping of his son.

“Why, then, promote him to full General after these comments? This is because this mistake is one aspect where he has acted negatively as a public officer,” Museveni said.

“There are, however, many other positive contributions the General has made and can still make. This is a time-tested formula – discourage the negative and encourage the positive.”

Kainerugaba, 48, is the youngest serving four-star general of the UPDF.

By way of celebrating this milestone, Kainerugaba says he shall throw a massive street bash along Kampala road in a few days.