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Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is also the senior presidential advisor for special operations, was Friday in Greater Masaka for his maiden baraza meeting since the launch of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) last month.

In his address to Greater Masaka supporters, he said his message rotates around three issues — what PLU means, wealth creation and poverty eradication and the youth agenda.

Friday's tour also came against the backdrop of political fissures within the leadership of the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) in Greater Masaka, a region they swept during the 2021 general elections.

Already the political rivalry between the former Leader of Opposition, Mathias Mpuuga, who is also the Nyendo-Mukungwe Division MP, and the NUP party president, Robert Kyagulanyi, has reached fever pitch.

The build-up to the Mpuuga-Kyagulanyi political beef started when Mpuuga stopped mobilisation drives in Masaka that were engineered by NUP’s secretary for mobilisation, Fred Nyanzi, who is also the brother of Kyagulanyi.

So, in the eyes of political observers, Kainerugaba’s Masaka visit that was been crowned by a major mobilisation rally at Masaka Liberation Square, acts as a turning point for two competing parties in Masaka—NUP and the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).

"For NRM, the visit will act as a wake-up call for mobilisers and supporters who have been in political hibernation following the 2021 historical election wave that swept all NRM MPs, including the former Vice President, Edward Ssekandi and other powerful ministers," Arnold Kisitu, a voter from Kitega, along Villa Maria road in Nyendo Mukungwe Division, said.

"For NUP, the visit will act as a demobilisation tool that will add salt to their current divisions and power-struggle."

Other seasoned politicians have weighed in on the develoments.

Bugweri County MP, Abdu Katuntu (Independent), recently said on a political show, Capital Gang, that the emergence of Muhoozi’s PLU could be the beginning of the end of NRM.

“The thing is crystalising. It shows that there is a problem with NRM, and quote me on this, I know I will be vindicated—this PLU thing is the beginning of the winding up of NRM."

Yet in the eyes of the secretary general of NRM, Richard Todwong, PLU is part and parcel of NRM—and by extension a mobilising tool for President Yoweri Museveni’s 2026 presidential bid.

“For all the other groups within the NRM who are mobilising; the MK movement, office of the national chairman, volunteer groups, all those are tributaries that collect water to the man river which is NRM,” Todwong told NRM supporters in Serere district, recently.

“As Pan Africanists, we have one struggle but many fronts. So, all of them are members of the NRM."

Kayihura returns 

At the Masaka rally, one of the major towering National Resistance Army/Movement (NRA/M) figures, Gen. Kale Kayihura, was expected to give a keynote address.

The invitation came at a time when Kayihura, who had completely withdrawn from public life, is making random appearances on national functions.

The possibility of Kayihura being crafted into Cabinet with a major role ahead of the 2026 general election is also gaining credence as the four-star general plays a pivotal role in Muhoozi’s PLU political machinations.

Within Lyantonde district, where he retired at his Kasagama farm, MPs within the area have also started pointing at the possibility of Kayihura’s return to elective politics.

So, when New Vision online paid a courtesy visit at his Kasagama farm a few weeks ago, Kayihura told us that he is a typical farmer.

In fact, during the interview, he asked most of the questions about what is going on in Kampala, with the former Police chief saying he takes long to read newspapers.

Holed up into goat rearing and banana plantation, Kayihura is off smartphones. Just like his mentor, President Yoweri Museveni, he cherishes the old generation small phone dubbed ka-torch.

Having gone through what he described as a “horrible situation” when he was arrested and charged in the General Court Martial in August 2018, Kayihura said he had intentionally cut off any links with the ‘world’ until Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba forked him out of the deep abyss.

On the expected reshuffle, where his name recently made rounds on social media, Kayihura said he was green. In fact, the general does not have access to internet.

However, he describes Muhoozi as a game-changer for the nation.

“I cannot embark in elective politics, I will not go for any parliamentary elections, I can still render other services in the country where it necessitates,” he said. 

Kayihura's remarks put to rest speculations that he is eyeing a parliamentary seat in either Lyantonde or Kisoro districts where he commands high popularity.

Kayihura said he was happy that Muhoozi is a strong advocate against corruption because improved service delivery in Government will be effective if the crusade to curb corruption is equally embraced.

He, however, regretted that corruption levels have deepened into the systems of governance, a trend he said, has complicated the elimination of the vice.

“It gives me hope that Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba is being branded as a nonsense personality against corruption," said Kayihura.

"Other stakeholders should join him to create a corrupt-free generation. Gen MK will be a right choice to sustain the achievements of President Museveni. He is a game-changer."

The former IGP said President Museveni has also demonstrated to be an exemplary leader in the history of the nation and the region, adding that Museveni’s busy schedule has sharpened his brain.

Kayihura was freed by the General Court Martial in August, 2023 after military prosecutors withdrew charges against him, paving the way for his retirement from the army the following day.

Kayihura had been charged with three counts, which included two of failure to protect war materials and one of aiding the kidnap and illegal repatriation of Rwandan nationals.

Upon retirement, he said: “I am the happiest human being on earth now.”

Enter Masaka

Meanwhile, within Masaka, political actors argue that the political terrain is shifting as the jostle for power supremacy within NUP takes a delicate twist.

According to the Masaka regional publicity secretary for the Democratic Party (DP), Denis Majwala, PLU and Muhoozi have an opportunity to take advantage of the emerging deep conflicts within opposition camps in the area.

“These conflicts within the Opposition have created a vacuum, which PLU can take advantage of. Within NRM, there are also challenges with Gen. Muhoozi's initiatives, which has plunged their supporters into a state of confusion on the future of the NRM party."

The other advantage that PLU has, political analyst Morris Matovu said, is the fact that they present some fresh air within Masaka politics, especially among NRM supporters, given the fact that past NRM leaders failed to galvanise party support during the 2021 general elections.

“Gen. MK with his newly launched PLU is likely to use the opportunity to mobilise support from the youth and elders from both NUP and NRM who are yearning to see a change of leadership in Uganda,” he said. 

“In 2021, NRM leaders failed to convince the electorate to vote for NRM party flag bearers, including President Museveni, even when the government has made significant achievements that have changed the face of Masaka City.

"So, Gen.MK has made a timely visit to Masaka when the opposition political lions and their supporters are falling apart in the NUP camp,” said Matovu.

Some DP supporters such as Henry Busulwa and NUP’s former regional publicist, John Kambuggu, have already embarked on the mobilisation drives for Muhoozi’s visit.

“The electorate in Masaka have now known that the opposition politics is about eating and hoodwinking them," said Kambuggu.

"They got votes after promising to oust President Museveni. Now they are fighting each other even when they have overstayed in Parliament."

 WHAT OTHERS SAY 

Moses Mugisha, head of crime preventers in Masaka

We are very excited about the return of Gen. Kayihura, and the coming of Gen. Muhoozi to our area. The majority of our crime preventers in the region had been frustrated, but today they have all their hopes high after learning of Gen. MK's visit. It will be a great opportunity to thank him for coming to the rescue of Gen. Kale.

Frank Bwekumbule, FDC chairperson for Masaka district

Gen. MK is regarded highly in the region because people believe that he is the solution to the crusade against corruption in the country. He is welcome to Masaka. We are ready to support his cause.

Faruk Ssebiddo, youth leader of Kyotera district

The opposition in Masaka is no longer constructive. We shall nurture our own Gen. MK into a future leader of our generation.

Sarah Kiyimba, Rakai RDC

We need discipline and teamwork among Gen. Mk supporters. Internal challenges within NRM should be addressed in the right forums.

Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire, internal affairs minister

I hear people say Kahinda hates Gen. Muhoozi. I don’t hate Kainerugaba as a person. I don’t want him as a President. There is a difference. I have no problem with Kainerugaba as Museveni’s son but Kainerugaba the President of Uganda, I don’t support that. I am very open on that one.