{UAH} FELLOW BABOONS, "HABEMUS PRESIDENTUM"
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Out and about: Muhoozi (L) with singer Bobi Wine at a basketball game at YMCA
Muhoozi's willingness to step out more often has raised eyebrows within some political circles and aroused suspicion that he could be angling himself for a bigger political office in the near future.
While the commander of the Special Forces Command (SFC) has constantly denied reports that he is interested in succeeding his father as president, he has never entirely ruled out running for the top office.
Last month, while responding to activities of Why Not Youth Pressure Group (WNPG), which wants him to be president in 2021, Muhoozi said he had no intention to enter political activity "for the foreseeable future."
The 40-year-old military officer was quick to add, though, that when he is no longer a serving soldier in the UPDF, he will make his decision about serving his country in "other fields."
Increasingly, Muhoozi's 'service to the country' has become more visible, unlike other army officers at his rank who work in the background.
The events
An examination and analysis of the activities of Muhoozi by The Observer indicates that between May and November this year, Muhoozi attended at least 13 public events, averaging at least two functions per month. Our analysis is based on newspaper reports as well as postings on the SFC website (specialforcescommand.go.ug).
Out of 13 events he presided over, four (when he met Egyptian and South African special force heads, when he commissioned houses for SFC and when he visited Somalia) are directly related to his work. Others are charity events but the bulk of them are social with a tinge of politics.
For instance on May 11, Muhoozi was chief guest at the 50th birthday celebration of Pastor Aaron Mutebi who heads the Miracle Centre church in Entebbe. There, he implored the faithful to follow in the footsteps of their leader whom he described as "charismatic."
Three days later, on May 14, Muhoozi officiated as chief guest at the closing ceremony of a one-week scout camp at Kisubi beach, Entebbe. This particular event was attended by more than 1,000 holidaymakers drawn from schools in Kampala and Wakiso districts, indicating his interest in meeting young people.
He told them: "If you maintain the values of scouting, you will go very far in life because it gives you the discipline and focus you need."
On May 27, Muhoozi addressed a retreat of Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) at Kyankwanzi where he presented a paper titled, 'The Changing National Security Environment in Uganda: From State Security to Human Security." He told the RDCs that the changing modern security landscape was now more focused on individuals, manifested through increased citizen agitation for better service delivery.
"I hope one of the outcomes of this important retreat will be a marked improvement in public service delivery through effective and efficient implementation of central and local government programmes in the districts," he said.
Muhoozi (with blue cap) at the Polo tournament in Kakira
More and more, the message and theme of Muhoozi's speeches invoke memories of some of his father's addresses. For instance, while addressing RDCs, he reminded them to safeguard the peace the country enjoys because it was brought by "patriots who shed their blood."
On September 4, while addressing a group of community crime preventers at the police training school in Kabalye, Masindi, Muhoozi implored them to be patriotic and disciplined.
"You must be highly disciplined at all times. Be vigilant, including maintaining sharp physical fitness and good health and that way you will succeed anywhere," he counseled.
More recently on November 8, Muhoozi was guest of honour at a polo tournament in Kakira, Jinja, organised by the Madhvani Group.
"This game is very good and important for the military but unfortunately it has not been part of our culture. We know from our history that in other countries entire military units have been mounted on horses. We should introduce this equestrian culture into the UPDF and start participating in tournaments," Muhoozi said.
A retired senior army officer told The Observer yesterday that Muhoozi had increasingly adopted the poise of someone on the verge of greater things. The officer said increasingly, a number of senior army officers, some at the same rank or higher than Muhoozi, had come to view the first son as powerful.
The officer said he was shocked when he saw Brig Leo Kyanda, the chief of staff, Land Forces, delivering Muhoozi's message to the Uganda Cranes, before the football match against Togo in October.
"Muhoozi is feared like his father. That is why there are some things he can do which other serving officers cannot," the officer said.
Lt Col Paddy Ankunda, the army spokesman, said yesterday that Muhoozi has not broken any code of ethics of the army by attending meetings, even if some have a political theme.
"For us in the army, as long as he is not engaged in partisan politics or act in a manner that compromises his integrity, we have no problem. He is a leader in the army and, therefore, he is invited by different social groups and people to address them. That is okay," Ankunda said.
Our efforts to talk to Maj Chris Magezi, the spokesman of the SFC, were futile as he did not pick our calls.
Muhoozi's public appearances
May 11: 50th Birthday for Pastor Aaron Mutebi
May 14: Scouts camp in Entebbe
May 27: RDC retreat
July 4: Commissioning new SFC housing block
August 2: Meeting South African Special Forces
August 29: Meeting Egyptian Special Forces
September 4: Meeting police crime preventers
October 10: Delivers special message to The Cranes
October 21: Visits Somalia
November 8: Polo tournament, Kakira
ekiggundu@observer.ug
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