We didn't fight for Uganda to be ruled by one family - Gen Otafiire

Gen Otafiire, one of the soldiers who fought in the war that brought the current government into power, yesterday doubled down on his resentment of President Yoweri Museveni passing down leadership to his son, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

As one of the National Resistance Army (NRA) historicals, the 73-year-old said he and his compatriots did not go to war to have the country ruled by a single family.

As such, he said, in an interview with NBS, that Ugandans must take this out of the equation when voting for their next leader.

“Think about what you want. Vote for the person who will solve your problems,” Otafiire said.

“Because if you say so and so’s son should take over from their father, his son will also want to take over from his grandfather. Then we will have Sultan number one, Sultan number two and so on and then the whole essence of democracy for which we fought will be lost.”

Over the past two years, Gen Otafiire has repeatedly voiced his opposition to First Son, Gen Muhoozi, succeeding his father as President of Uganda.

Gen Muhoozi, who has repeatedly made known his intentions to run for the presidency of Uganda, has also not hidden his dislike for Gen Otafiire and other people opposed to his political ambitions.

But in the interview, Otafiire said if the First Son truly believes that he has what it takes to run a country, he should prove that first to the people of Uganda, rather than taking advantage only of his bloodline.

“If he wants to take power, she should take in democratically as per laid-down procedures and regulations in a democratic fair competitive election, not because he is President Museveni’s son,” Otafiire emphasised.

“That is dangerous. Let him prove to Ugandans that he is capable.”