By Aggrey Baba
Shortly before the Tuesday declaration of Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s 2031 presidential bid, Omutume David Kabanda, the MP for Kasambya County and a reputable figure in the Muhoozi project, took supporters down memory lane, narrating the dramatic account of how the first son was once reported dead during a military operation in Teso, only for him to be found alive about 30 minutes later.
Kabanda made the revelation on Tuesday, while addressing a gathering convened at the office of the Chairman in Kampala, around the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU)’s mobilization for Muhoozi’s presidential project, using the extraordinary episode to underline the General’s battlefield experience and resilience.
According to the former PLU Secretary General, Muhoozi was still a young military officer when he was deployed to Teso during operations against rebel forces.
He narrated that during one of the battles, Muhoozi’s commander was killed at the frontline, after which a report reached President YK Museveni that his son had also been killed.
Kabanda said Museveni immediately demanded to know where Muhoozi’s corpse was and instructed those on the ground to ensure that it was not taken away by the rebels, a report, Kabanda said, was soon proved wrong.
About 30 minutes later, according to Kabanda’s account, those who had gone to establish what had happened discovered that Muhoozi was still alive. Kabanda said civilians had rescued the young officer and hidden him in one of the local structures, allowing him to survive the deadly encounter.
The head of PLU Chairman’s office presented the incident as a defining moment in Muhoozi’s early military career, arguing that his experience in Teso is part of the history that should be considered today when assessing his credentials as a future President of Uganda.
Kabanda further narrated that Muhoozi subsequently rose through the military ranks, moving from Lieutenant to Major. His account was also intended to counter the narrative that Muhoozi’s rise is purely a product of his father’s influence.
For Kabanda, the General’s story began long before the current succession debate and the formation of political groups rallying behind his presidential ambitions.
He recalled how Muhoozi’s supporters initially came together under the MK movement at a time when critics were accusing the General of preparing to overthrow his father and take over the presidency through a coup.
Kabanda said he remained publicly supportive of Muhoozi even during periods when the General faced political and military setbacks, arguing that he believed in the broader cause around MK’s leadership.
He said the movement subsequently grew, attracting different groups of supporters and eventually developing into a political project now openly seeking to propel Muhoozi to State House between now and 2031.
Kabanda’s Teso account served as more than a recollection of a battlefield episode. As Muhoozi’s supporters prepare for his presidential journey, Kabanda used the story to portray the first son as a figure whose path to national leadership was shaped by military experiences and survival long before he became the subject of who rules Uganda after Museveni. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
