By Eye Media Uganda | Kampala | September 4, 2026
Political commentators who hurried to manufacture a rift between Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba and Minister for the Presidency Milly Babirye Babalanda appear to have celebrated too soon.
On September 4, 2026, Gen. Muhoozi questioned Minister Babalanda’s declaration that President Yoweri Museveni would remain Uganda’s leader beyond 2031 and demanded an apology.
His comments followed an announcement by the Patriotic League of Uganda that Gen. Muhoozi intends to contest for the presidency in 2031.
Within hours, political commentators had transformed the difference in political messaging into claims of a personal war between the Chief of Defence Forces and Minister Babalanda.
Some went into overdrive, attacking the minister and predicting the end of her political career before establishing whether any personal disagreement existed.
However, Minister Babalanda quickly responded with a reconciliatory message, declaring: “Tuko Pamoja”—Kiswahili for “We are together.”
Gen. Muhoozi welcomed her message and invited her to the PLU headquarters to sign the endorsement book supporting his anticipated 2031 presidential candidature.
Moments later, PLU Secretary Twalla Fadil confirmed that the PLU Secretariat already had an arrangement with Minister Babalanda concerning her visit.
The sequence of messages poured cold water on claims that the two leaders had developed an irreparable personal or political rift.
Instead, it indicated that the disagreement concerned competing messages about the 2031 presidential election and could be resolved within their wider political family.
Minister Babalanda has long been known for her humility, loyalty and reconciliatory approach to political disagreements.
Gen. Muhoozi, on the other hand, has repeatedly demonstrated a willingness to forgive and reconcile with colleagues following misunderstandings.
Only a day earlier, Minister Babalanda publicly thanked Gen. Muhoozi and the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs for supporting arrangements for the burial of the late Tooro King, Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.
She revealed that the Office of the CDF and the ministry had provided food for mourners, while the UPDF Engineering Brigade was supporting renovation works at the burial grounds.
That cooperation demonstrated a continuing working relationship between their offices, despite differences over statements concerning the 2031 presidential election.
Senior leaders within the same political establishment may disagree or seek clarification from one another without necessarily becoming enemies.
For those who had already talked too much, celebrated and directed venom at Minister Babalanda, the reconciliation left them embarrassed in their own game.
The final message from the Muhoozi-Babalanda exchange was unmistakable: Tuko Pamoja.
