A mixture of reactions continue flying regarding Lt. General Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s recently celebrated birthday to mark 48 years of age.
Voices querying the rationale of the countrywide bazaars, mainly from critics in opposition couldn’t have been any louder. Yet, in almost equal measures, tones of excitement and praise dominated the week in the run-up to the April, 24th climax of the celebrations.
Perhaps, the State House dinner, where President Museveni- and father to General Muhoozi hosted his Rwandan counterpart, General Paul Kagame formed the highlight of the whole affair. Three highly decorated army Generals, three top African revolutionaries, and two Heads of State in one room at State House, no other spectacle could beat such a grandeur.
Remarkably, as Museveni reminisced the early days of Muhoozi from birth, there reached a point where he hinted at the salient indicators the face of Uganda’s future generations will superintendent over the fight against corruption. Whereas Museveni admitted his soft spot in fighting corruption for being a little bit lenient towards the culprits, unlike General Muhoozi.
The revelation by Museveni has yet again ignited a fierce debate regarding the personality of the Command of the UPDF’s Land Forces. Truth be told, save for a few close acquaintances outside the army, very little has been known about the first son in the public. Why Muhoozi opted for a life away from the public remains a big mystery despite being the first son.
So powerful, yet down to earth, Muhoozi harbours a cocktail of attributes possessed by high achieving military personalities such as Generals, Katumba Wamala, Mugiira, Leopold Kyanda, among others. That explains why his souring raise to the top has not been accidental
Over the years, I have had the luxury of associating with Muhoozi and studying him even further as public attention and scrutiny started surrounding him. For lack of a better description of him, I have, with much reverence opted to refer to him as a demigod. A spirit. A small god. Yes. That’s what he is.
The magic with which he attracts positive energy around him is superstitious. His zeal for perfection is unmatched. In the army where he has served for most of his adult life, he is hailed for his no-nonsense character while demanding for efficiency of his subordinates. Speaking too little, yet moving mountains, it’s no surprise that he has attained innumerable fits in command of the army.
Naysayers had initially questioned Museveni’s choice of Muhoozi for the dialogue with President Kagame in the three years long diplomatic standoff. These argued that he was too soft a man to face off with a diplomatically more refined Kagame, in a matter that had proved complex for his father. Yet, contrary to what many had anticipated, the result was amazing. With utmost ease, the border was opened, and a few months later, a Museveni-Kagame reunion was witnessed much to the amusements of the two countries.
The above milestone Inly served to prove critics wrong. For some people like myself, the unmatched achievements in UPDF had served enough to convince us that there was much to expected from the young patriot. Trained in the world’s most prestigious military academies, Muhoozi, for the unshakable love for his country, chose to return in Uganda, into the trenches of death at the hands of the ruthless Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) just to pacify his motherland even when could have easily chosen to remain in America, or man a commercial empire anywhere in the world.
As a refined graduate, he influenced many learned Ugandans to join the army by breaking the old notion that the force was for those who had failed in school. The current professionalisation of the UPDF we currently pride in is, by far, courtesy of his sacrifice.
As for the birthday that has been a subject of intense debate, I find this criticism insanely ridiculous. If birthday parties can be organised by everybody, in a daily basis, why is it then criminal for a first son, with much to show, to throw a party!
My advise is that these should swallow a hamble pie. Any one who accepts to sacrifice their salary to share It with the public in celebration is no ordinary person. Indeed, the future of NRM, and this country is as bright as snow with General Muhoozi.
The Author is a Communications Assistant in the Office of the NRM National Chairman and Head of State.
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