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The National Resistance Movement (NRM) leaders’ retreat in Kyankwanzi ended with anxiety surrounding the support for President Yoweri Museveni as the sole candidate for the 2026 elections. Mr. Duadi Kabanda expressed concerns about NRM lawmakers pressuring Museveni for his endorsement. However, it was later clarified that the President rejected such actions. President Museveni addressed the Muhoozi Movement, acknowledging its origins within the party’s leadership’s failures but emphasizing the importance of unity.

On Sunday 4^th May 2023, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) leaders’ retreat in Kyankwanzi came to an end amid considerable anxiety among some members of the NRM who had hoped it would culminate with a support for President Museveni’s status as the only candidate for the 2026 elections.

A significant supporter of the “Muhoozi Movement,” Mr. Daudi Kabanda, had heard earlier in the day that some NALI lawmakers were planning to pressure Museveni into accepting their sole endorsement. Mr. Kabanda viewed this action with suspicion because it might have been an attempt to frustrate the candidate he has been steadfastly campaigning for in the upcoming general election.

“We have just been reliably informed that a group of 30 self-seekers (MPs) are converging at Kyankwanzi to endorse President Museveni tomorrow [yesterday June 04, 2023) as a sole candidate for the 2026 elections. We know some of them are targeting ministerial positions while the others want to retain their ministerial positions,” claimed Kabanda on Saturday.

On Sunday, June 4, 2023, about 3 p.m., the State House announced that President Museveni and First Lady Janet Museveni had left the National Leadership Institute (NALI), Kyankwanzi for Ngoma in the Nakaseke District for the retreat’s closing events.

Upon their arrival, some MPs were observed provocatively dancing and rejoicing in a way that suggested a threat to anyone they did not wish well. Loyalists to Muhoozi were alarmed by this action as it coincided with the worst political news of the generation: Museveni’s lone endorsement for president.

Many people were shocked to discover that there was nothing of the sort mentioned. Later, much to the dismay of its defenders, reports surfaced that the President Museveni had derided such actions. The President had previously rejected such attempts, notably last year when he met intern doctors at the Kololo Independence Ground. When questioned about his goals for 2026, the president dismissed the discussion and argued that it was time to focus on business rather than politics. He continued by responding in Soroti, Bukedea, and Amuru.

The President’s Remarks on the Muhoozi Movement in Kyankwanzi.

General(rtd) Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s response to NRM MPs and the National Leadership Institute (NALI) Kyankwanzi on the controversy surrounding his 2006 and General Muhoozi Keinerugaba, has sparked much discussion over what the president may have meant to say.

When asked to comment on the confusion expressed by one MP who feels threatened by the Muhoozi Movement’s steadily increasing influence in her district, Museveni, who is also the ruling party’s National Chairman, blamed the rise of the Muhoozi Movement on the party’s leadership’s failure to address the frustrations of some party members, particularly the youths.

“The issue of standby generator, that one I am handling with Muhoozi and his group because this issue is partly due to the weaknesses of the NRM. Because remember when Muhoozi celebrated his birthday, 48 years, there was some enthusiasm by some youths in Kampala and other parts. When I analyzed it, I could see that because of the weaknesses of our systems, some of the frustrated youths go to that group thinking that there is hope and within the army itself, there has been corruption and Muhoozi himself has been very strict with them within the army and that’s why there is a resistance movement within the Resistance Movement.”

There, the President highlights two important topics that merit our consideration. The initial fact is that he is aware of General Muhoozi as “a standby generator” whose “Muhoozi Movement” he is quite aware of. He continues by educating the populace about the origins of the Muhoozi Movement, which he mostly blames on flaws within the NRM, the party he serves as national chairman of. Second, the President highlights Muhoozi’s anti-corruption trait as one of the reasons for his perseverance to the head of the succession line. He points out that one of the things that partly endows him to the people who share a similar desire is his son General’s brilliant work in ridding the army of dishonest officials.

“But of course, some of the things that Muhoozi doesn’t know is that some people are looking for their own interests. But what I did, I called them and talked to them, and you will come back together all of you. What I explained to Muhoozi was that creating unprincipled contradictions among the people is not a good thing. You should only fight those against your ideology but not anybody within your ideology, so I am helping them. Don’t create unnecessary contradictions amongst yourself. I talked to General Muhoozi, and Mama was there, the principles of NRM, do I look for patriotism or sectarianism? When I am for patriotism, then you are all together. It’s only the one who is for sectarianism that should seem to me as a problem. If I am for patriotism, why would you see me as a problem?” Museveni said

In the final part of the speech, the President appears to be appealing to some party members to end their animosity toward his son, whom he works to portray as a product of the same system. Museveni argues that the party should be held together by patriotism, a trait the MK supreme leader has always held dear. He asserts that he anticipates brawls against anyone who opposes the NRM’s guiding ideals, which include nationalism and Pan-Africanism. It’s crucial to note, however, that Museveni warns General Muhoozi against individuals in the same submission who he believes are trying to lead him astray for personal benefit.

Overall, the president’s persuasive speech to the lawmakers in Kyankwanzi was largely intended to legitimize General Muhoozi as his select successor and to urge the party leadership to accept the Muhoozi Movement among its ranks as a means of addressing the flaws that could potentially split the NRM.

Although the message and behavior at NALI to the leaders may not have been overly clear-cut and easy for anybody to understand, it was unmistakably one that cleared General Muhoozi to become the next president, possibly as soon as 2026.