The top fifteen members of Uganda’s first family that are vehemently opposed to Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s assumed 2026 presidential bid have been named.
This newspaper has reliably established that top on the list of Muhoozi’s critics is President Yoweri Museveni’s brother-in-law, Barnabas Taremwa. He is a brother of Gen. Salim Saleh’s wife, Joviah.
The wealthy Taremwa is not only critical to Muhoozi’s presidential bid, but also to the increasing rates of alleged state-inspired violence and human rights violations. He has been appealing to members of the first family to prevail over state actors involved in human rights violations so that Museveni’s legacy does not end badly. In short, Taremwa wants his business empire to outlive the current regime.
The security minister, Jim Muhwezi is of the opinion that President Museveni should seek another term in 2026 instead of Muhoozi contesting. Muhwezi feels that his political interests are much safer under President Museveni than Muhoozi. Muhwezi is a top member of the first family given that his wife, Suzan is a cousin to Museveni’s wife, Janet.
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Family sources disclose that Muhwezi strongly believes that his continued stay in cabinet can only be safeguarded by President Museveni.
The third member of the first family who believes that Muhoozi should not contest in 2026 is Museveni’s embattled son-in-law, Geoffrey Kamuntu. Though Gen. Muhoozi and Kamuntu are in-laws, they have not been the best of friends for some time. Their strained relation is explained in the recent tweet in which Muhoozi praised his other in-law, Edwin Karugire at the cost of Kamuntu.
Fourth on the list of first family members opposed to Muhoozi’s assumed 2026 presidential bid is former security minister Gen. Henry Tumukunde. Tumukunde’s issues with Muhoozi are personal. Tumukunde himself believes that he is the right person to succeed President Museveni. He even contested for presidency last year, but lost. He is an outstanding member of the first family since his wife Stella is a cousin to Janet.
The fifth on the list is Gen. Saleh’s wife, Joviah. Though she is on good talking terms with Muhoozi, she is fully behind Museveni seeking another term in 2026. The wealthy Joviah is on very good terms with President Museveni and, therefore, does not want her business environment to be affected by political transition factors.
The sixth first family member who thinks that Muhoozi should wait is the state minister for agriculture, Lt. Col. Bright Rwamirama. He is related to Museveni through Janet. Rwamirama is 100% behind Museveni’s return in 2026. He has not at all been charmed by calls that Muhoozi should run for president in 2026.
The other family members who are still reluctant to throw their backing behind Muhoozi’s 2016 presidential bid are Odrek Rwabogo (Museveni’s son-in-law), Dr. Violet Kajubiri (Museveni’s sister), Kellen Kayonga (Museveni’s in-law), Patience Rwabogo (Museveni’s daughter), Alice Kaboyo, Moses Byaruhanga, Hannington Karuhanga, Elly Rwakakooko and Albert Muganga.
