Museveni to comment on Muhoozi rank

By Grace Matsiko PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni will at an appropriate time comment on the promotion of Second Lieutenant Muhoozi Kainerugaba to the rank of Major by Libyan leader Col. Gadaffi, the State House said yesterday. In a statement, Museveni's spokeswoman, Hope Kivengere, did not, however, say when he would make the comment. Muhoozi is Museveni's son. Gadaffi's aide on Saturday announced that the Libyan leader had promoted Muhoozi to Major, two steps higher than his original rank. "We wish to inform the public that since the promotion was an action by the head of state of a brotherly country, only the President can comment on it authoritatively and only he can make a decision about it. "Museveni will, at the appropriate time, comment on this issue," she said. "The comments quoted in the press, therefore, only reflected the views of various individuals on this matter," she said. Army spokesman Lt. Col. Phinehas Katirima said the promotion of Muhoozi was likely to be discussed by the UPDF. "The promotion is a development which might call for debate on the way forward," Katirima, also the army representative in Parliament, told The New Vision. He said there was nothing wrong with Muhoozi's promotion by Gadaffi. "The promotion is not unlawful. There is no specific law barring a foreign dignitary from rewarding an army officer," Katirima added. "The UPDF is to consult over the issue. No consultation on the issue has been scheduled yet," he said. In a statement late last evening, Katirima added, "Gadaffi is a renown great African revolutionary leader. His promotion of 2nd Lt Muhoozi was done and announced without consultations with the UPDF Promotions and Commissions Board and the Commander-In-Chief of the Uganda Armed Forces. "It is, however, not uncommon for foreign heads of state and government to promote serving officers of foreign countries. In this particular case it was not even unlawful." Katirima said the promotion would be discussed by the army on the way forward. Ends