Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba will not retire from the army as he announced on Tuesday afternoon.
“After 28 years of service in my glorious military, the greatest military in the world, I am happy to announce my retirement. Me and my soldiers have achieved so much! I have only love and respect for all those great men and women that achieve greatness for Uganda everyday,” Muhoozi tweeted.
His announcement went viral on online platforms sparking off a huge debate whether the First Son was leaving the military to concentrate on a political career.
For many years, there have been rumors of President Yoweri Museveni grooming his son to succeed him.
However, hours after Muhoozi’s announcement, veteran journalist Andrew Mwenda uploaded a video clip of him and the UPDF commander of Land Forces clarifying that he would leave the army after 8 year.
“I am not leaving tomorrow but after 8 years,” Muhoozi is overheard saying in the video.
Muhoozi joined the military in 1999, making it 23 years in active service not 28 as he earlier said.
In the video Mwenda emphasized that the General will not be retiring.
Blocked
This website has however, learnt that the decision to retire has been rejected by the Commander in Chief (CIC) Gen Yoweri Museveni.
According to sources, Muhoozi had not reached a retirement age. Further there is a formal procedure through promotions and commission board of the UPDF which allows a soldier to retire.
A soldier must first apply which Muhoozi, according to sources had not done but simply expressed interest of retiring on social media.
In his 23 of military service Muhoozi has held sensitive positions including commanding Special Forces twice, an elite unit of UPDF that oversees security of First Family and other strategic installations in the country.
He has also served as a Special Advisor to the President on military operations.
Last year he was appointed Commander Land Forces.
Muhoozi is credited for engaging President Paul Kagame who agreed to open Rwanda- Uganda border which he had been closed for 3 years following a diplomatic conflict and also flushing out ADF rebels in Eastern Congo through Operation Shuja that was launched at the end of last year.