Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has announced plans to step down from his military post in a series of public messages released on X.
General Kainerugaba, son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, said he intends to hand over his office to a successor and transition into religious service.
The military chief made the announcement across several social media posts, outlining both his departure timeline and new directives for army pay.
A Spiritual Transition and Handover Timeline
General Kainerugaba explained that his time leading the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) is coming to a close after fulfilling his assigned duties.
He wrote: "My time as CDF is coming to an end. I have accomplished all the tasks my God gave me. In a few months I will hand over this office to a qualified officer. I shall dedicate my life to Christ after that."
Addressing potential uncertainty over the timing of his departure, General Kainerugaba clarified that he remains in position for the immediate future.
He added: "Don't worry I'm still around. At least for another year."
Proposed Salary Increase for Soldiers
Alongside his transition plans, General Kainerugaba issued directives regarding soldier remuneration and living conditions within the armed forces. He noted ongoing efforts to resolve housing challenges for military personnel.
He stated: "My heroes have always been UPDF soldiers. We are struggling to improve their accommodation. But now as I prepare to leave the military, every UPDF private must be paid 2,000,000/- as his basic salary. This must start in the next financial year."
Financial Authority and Ministry Directives
General Kainerugaba also pointed to financial backing from the executive branch to support military requirements. He cited authority granted by the President, referred to as 'Mzee'.
He wrote: "Mzee, has recently given me powers over the Ministry of Finance. They will give UPDF all the funds we need."
The series of announcements sets out a dual focus on religious commitment and military reform as the CDF prepares for his upcoming exit.
Kainerugaba has a long-standing history of posting provocative, aggressive, and deleted messages on X (formerly Twitter) that frequently spark diplomatic crises and political tension.
In 2022, Muhoozi triggered a major diplomatic row by tweeting that it would take his army just two weeks to capture Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, and asking where he should live in the city.
President Yoweri Museveni was forced to publicly apologize to Kenya for the remarks.
He has frequently targeted opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine) and other critics with severe threats—including referring to Bobi Wine as a "baboon," bragging about violence against opposition figures, and threatening physical harm.
