President Museveni has said some of the supporters of his son, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, are seeking their own personal interests.
According to the President, while some of Gen Muhoozi’s youthful supporters are enthusiastic for change, this does not necessarily reflect across board.
“You remember when he celebrated his 48th birthday [last year], there was some enthusiasm by some of the youths. When I analysed it, I could see that it was because of weakness of our system,” the President said.
He added: “I could see it was sort of a resistance movement within the resistance movement(NRM). … but of course some of the things (Gen) Muhoozi doesn’t know is that some of them are looking for their own interests. Some are looking for this, some are looking for that.”
The head of state was on Wednesday addressing the NRM Parliamentary Caucus who are currently on their 10-day retreat at Kyankwanzi.
In the remarks, he was responding to some NRM MPs who said some of the party members who had lost in the 2021 parliamentary election had joined the MK Movement, an acronym for those who support Gen Muhoozi.
But according to the President, those who are crossing to the Muhoozi camp are doing so largely because of the weaknesses of NRM.
“Some of the frustrated youths go to that group (MK Movement) thinking that there is hope.”
Since last year, Gen Muhoozi and his supporters have been traversing the country holding different events such as birthday parties and sports events, while drumming support for the first son who says he will stand for president come 2026.
Gen Muhoozi, who is also the senior presidential advisor on special operations, has also been attacking the ruling NRM party, describing it as reactionary.
“I am listening to the outcry of our people for change. I am with the people! Whatever NRM has become certainly does not represent the people of Uganda,” Muhoozi tweeted.
He added, “I believe in Jesus Christ, and I believe in my father, General Kaguta Museveni. I certainly do not believe in NRM. In Marxist terms, it is probably the most reactionary organization in the country.”
But according to the President, he has since warned his son against creating what he describes as unprincipled contradictions.
“It is not a good thing. You should only fight the one who is against your ideology and not anybody within your ideology. I met them and helping them. Don’t create unnecessary contradictions within yourselves,” he said on Thursday.
“If you are for patriotism and I am for patriotism, why do you see me as a problem? Principles are the most important. Does this person support Pan Africanism, if he does, then what are you disagreeing with him about? That means there is something else unprincipled, being personal or fighting for position but not being for principle,” he added.