Uganda military arrests spark succession tension
At least a dozen senior officers have been detained under Army Chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba amid political debates over President Museveni's successor.
At least a dozen generals and senior officers have been arrested under Army Chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba over the last 15 months, according to BBC News. The crackdown has occurred as political tensions grow regarding who will succeed President Yoweri Museveni, who has ruled Uganda for four decades.
Gen Kainerugaba, 52, is considered a potential successor, though his ambitions face resistance within the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM). This week, the general suggested he should take the position of Vice-President Jessica Alupo and threatened her with arrest and dismissal.
The NRM has described reports that its leadership rejected a proposal to back Gen Kainerugaba as the next president as "completely false". NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong Awany said the party met on 10 November to discuss various issues but did not confirm any decision regarding the presidency.
Political scientist Dr Gerald Bareebe told the BBC that senior officers suspected of not supporting the "Muhoozi Project" have been detained or charged with treason and corruption. He noted that some allegations are viewed as politically motivated due to military divisions.
One prominent former commander, Lt Gen Peter Elwelu, was detained on 2 November following accusations of plotting to destabilise the eastern Teso region. Gen Kainerugaba announced on X that Elwelu had been demoted to Private, though Ugandan media reported that military regulations do not permit stripping rank via social media.
The military has defended the arrests as part of an effort to address criminality and corruption. Security analyst Freddie David Egesa stated the detentions are part of investigations by various security agencies rather than a purge led by the army.