(Kampala) – Uganda’s Parliament was anything but boring on Tuesday, September 24, when the country’s lawmakers found themselves debating a topic that wouldn’t be out of place on a local radio gossip show. It all started when Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda decided to ask a burning question—should the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, be free to share his political musings on social media like a regular citizen, especially when they concern the 2026 presidential elections? And just like that, Parliament’s attention was hijacked by the nation’s most famous tweeting general.
A Battle for the Right to Tweet
Deputy Attorney General Jackson Kafuuzi stepped in like the lawyer in one of those courtroom dramas Ugandans love watching on TV. His defence? Gen. Muhoozi may be wearing the country’s military uniform, but that doesn’t mean he can’t have an opinion on matters that affect the very people he’s sworn to defend. “Article 208 of the Constitution doesn’t take away the right to have an opinion,” Kafuuzi argued. “Being a military man doesn’t put you outside the ambit of Chapter Four of the Constitution.” In other words, Muhoozi’s Twitter fingers are protected by the law, whether his tweets raise eyebrows or not.
Now, in Uganda, we know that when someone says “kutandika butandisi” (getting started on a small matter), it means things are about to escalate. And sure enough, social media has been buzzing with Muhoozi’s opinions on who should lead the country come 2026. But according to Kafuuzi, Uganda’s Bill of Rights under Chapter Four gives every citizen—even a four star general—the freedom to express themselves, whether online or offline.
| Person | Position | Key Argument |
|---|---|---|
| Gen. Muhoozi | Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) | Expressed opinion on 2026 elections |
| Jackson Kafuuzi | Deputy Attorney General | Defended Muhoozi’s right to free speech |
| Ibrahim Ssemujju | Kira Municipality MP | Questioned Muhoozi’s political statements |
A General with a Twitter Handle
For those who may have missed it, over the weekend, Muhoozi unleashed a string of tweets (or should we now call them X posts?) about the country’s upcoming elections. His social media followers were treated to some straightforward declarations. The most attention grabbing post? Muhoozi publicly announced that he wouldn’t be running for president in 2026. Instead, he threw his full support behind his father, President Yoweri Museveni. “Almighty God told me to focus on His Army first,” he tweeted, because, apparently, even generals receive divine instructions via social media these days.
For good measure, Muhoozi, who also happens to chair the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU)—a civic organization that sounds as formal as a high school debate club—urged all his supporters to back Museveni in the next elections. “We shall all of us, as one man and without exception, support President Museveni in 2026,” he declared with the confidence of someone ordering chapatti from a roadside vendor.
It’s one thing for a regular citizen to tweet about politics, but when the CDF does it, it’s bound to stir some feathers. After all, in Uganda, where Katogo (a mix of everything) is the perfect analogy for how things sometimes work, seeing a military man dabble in politics on social media is like watching a boda boda rider suddenly start performing surgery—you can’t help but wonder if everyone’s playing the right role.
Who Handles the Soldiers’ Social Media?
MP Ibrahim Ssemujju, never one to shy away from a good debate, took this moment to question Muhoozi’s online activity. After all, there’s Article 208 of the Constitution, which says that the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) shall be subject to civilian authority. So, how does that work when a top general is out here tweeting like he’s running for influencer of the year?
Tayebwa, the Deputy Speaker, gave a ruling that was more akin to a referee blowing the whistle to end a football match. “The UPDF has its organs to handle these issues,” he said, effectively telling Parliament to stay in its lane. In other words, leave it to the army to decide whether or not its top brass should continue expressing their personal political opinions online. “Let us handle our business here, and the UPDF will handle theirs,” Tayebwa added, like a parent separating squabbling siblings at the dinner table.
| Tweet | Muhoozi’s Key Statements |
|---|---|
| “I will not be on the ballot…” | Muhoozi announced he won’t run for president in 2026 |
| “Support President Museveni…” | Urged supporters to back Museveni for 2026 |
| “God told me to focus…” | Cited divine guidance for not contesting |
Free Speech or Something More?
Kafuuzi’s defense of Muhoozi’s right to free expression could be likened to how Ugandan elders defend their children when they know they’ve gotten into some trouble, but still insist, “my child knows better”—a mix of pride and caution. The Deputy Attorney General insisted that Muhoozi, like any other citizen, has the right to share his thoughts, even if some people find it problematic that those thoughts concern the future leadership of the country.
But while Parliament may be debating constitutional rights, it’s the people on social media who have already taken sides, with reactions ranging from “he has a right” to “but does it look good?” And for some, it’s just another day in Uganda, where too many voices makes every political discussion feel like a village council meeting—plenty of opinions, but few conclusions.
Muhoozi’s Political Future?
As far as Muhoozi is concerned, 2026 is off the table, and the Presidential ballot is something he’s leaving for others to worry about. In his view, his supporters need to rally behind his father, President Museveni.
With Muhoozi out of the race, Uganda’s politics still remains as unpredictable as a Kampala taxi driver during rush hour. What happens next? Who knows.
