President Yoweri Museveni has praised Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba for fighting corruption in the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and improving the army’s combat strength.
In a birthday message posted on X on Friday, April 24, Museveni said Gen Muhoozi had made a strong contribution to the country’s resistance movement and to strengthening the army.
“Gen. Muhoozi has made significant contribution to fighting corruption in the Army and increasing the lethality of the UPDF,” Museveni said.
He said Muhoozi and his siblings were born and raised during the resistance struggle and had all played different roles in supporting the National Resistance Movement.
“These children, in particular Muhoozi, were born in the resistance, grew up in the resistance, and, in various ways, have made significant contribution to the resistance,” Museveni said.
Museveni said he was thankful to God for blessing him and First Lady Janet Kataaha Museveni with their four children: Muhoozi, Natasha, Patience and Diana Kyaremera. He also thanked the First Lady for raising them, especially between 1981 and 1986 when she was the parent closest to them during the bush war years.
He praised his daughters and son for succeeding in family life, education and their careers.
The President also thanked Ugandans and Africans who have supported his family and the NRM political movement over the years.
Museveni shared personal memories of Muhoozi’s birth on April 24, 1974, at Ocean Road Hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He said Janet Museveni was driven to hospital by a Dutch neighbour from their Kurasini flat after she went into labour.
He said the following day he tried to call Mozambican revolutionary leader Samora Machel to share the family news, but Machel asked him to call later because he was closely following the anti-fascist revolution in Portugal, which led to the collapse of Portugal’s colonial empire in Africa.
Museveni said this made April 24 and 25, 1974 special dates for freedom fighters.
He also linked the birthdays of his other children to major historical events, describing them as “earth-shakers” in family jokes.
He ended the message by congratulating Muhoozi, his wife, children and siblings on the milestone.
