Kampala, Uganda: President Museveni’s young brother, Caleb Akandwanaho, popularly known as Gen Salim Saleh, Friday paid glowing tribute to the Ugandan leader and his son, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, signaling what observers view as a subtle endorsement of a generational shift within the military and political establishment.
Posting from his official X (formerly Twitter) account @CalebAkandwanah, the NRA historical and long-time power broker stated on June 06: “I salute our CIC, H.E. @KagutaMuseveni, whose vision ignited our struggle and built a nation. To our CDF, @mkainerugaba, the finest in our history, your leadership has forged a disciplined, professional UPDF, carrying forward the NRA’s mission of unity and prosperity.”
The post, unusually direct for the famously reserved Saleh, came at a time of intense political recalibration within the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and rising speculation over succession dynamics.
The post also came as the first public acknowledgment by Gen Saleh of his nephew’s performance as Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) since his appointment in March 2024.
A Brotherhood Forged in War
Gen Saleh (born Caleb Akandwanaho), is not only Museveni’s younger brother but also one of the founding commanders of the National Resistance Army (NRA), which fought a five-year bush war that brought Museveni to power in 1986.
The five-star Gen has since remained a central, if at times behind-the-scenes, figure in military and economic power circles.
His praise of Museveni’s “vision” is standard fare in NRM rhetoric, but the elevation of Muhoozi as “the finest” CDF in Uganda’s history carries deeper significance. It may be interpreted as a powerful internal nod to Muhoozi’s growing authority within the state security apparatus and an affirmation of the “Muhoozi Project”, a phrase that has often been denied in officialdom but has come to define speculation over a father-to-son succession plan.
Muhoozi: The Heir Within the System?
Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Museveni’s only son, has rapidly ascended through military ranks over the past two decades. His reappointment as CDF marked a new phase in consolidating his influence, particularly with elite units like the Special Forces Command (SFC). Saleh’s open endorsement may now solidify his standing among NRA historicals and broader NRM circles.
Political analysts note that the timing is strategic, coming just as the NRM gears up for structural reforms ahead of the 2026 general elections and amid rising public fatigue over Museveni’s prolonged rule.
“Saleh’s tweet is more than a family compliment. It is a coded endorsement, a signal to the military fraternity and political elite that Muhoozi is ready to carry the torch,” said a senior insider with the NRM power ranks who requested anonymity for sensitivity of the matter.
Family Dynamics, Hidden Messages
The relationship among the trio of Generals; Museveni, Saleh, and Muhoozi, has always defined Uganda’s post-1986 political military establishment. Gen Saleh has been both a mentor and silent handler of Muhoozi in his formative years in the military, particularly when he joined the UPDF in the early 2000s.
Though often retreating into semi-retirement in areas like Kapeeka, where he has championed local industrialization, Gen Saleh’s occasional statements tend to carry weight, often interpreted as the distilled thinking of the “Old Guard.”
By equating Muhoozi’s military stewardship to the continuation of the NRA’s mission of “unity and prosperity,” Gen Saleh appears to be framing his nephew not just as Museveni’s son, but as the legitimate military-political heir to a revolution that began over four decades ago.
While Museveni has remained tight-lipped about succession, the message from his younger brother, Gen Saleh, looks likely to trigger renewed debate within and outside NRM about whether Gen Muhoozi is being primed for leadership post-2026.
The acknowledgment also puts pressure on Muhoozi to live up to the expectations of Uganda’s founding military elite, especially as he navigates national security, regional diplomacy, and the challenge of appealing to Uganda’s youth.
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