By Eye Media Uganda | Kampala | November 13, 2026

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has dismissed reports that its Central Executive Committee (CEC) rejected a proposal to endorse General Muhoozi Kainerugaba as Uganda’s next President.

In a strongly worded press statement issued on Thursday, November 12, 2026, NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong Awany described the reports as completely false and cautioned against misinformation concerning the party’s internal deliberations.

The clarification follows a closed-door CEC meeting held on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at State House Entebbe. The meeting was chaired by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who is also the NRM National Chairman.

Following the meeting, speculation emerged on social media and in online publications concerning the party’s future presidential leadership.

Some reports, allegedly citing five CEC members, claimed that the party’s highest executive organ had rejected a proposal to position General Muhoozi Kainerugaba as Museveni’s successor.

Muhoozi, the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), is also the Senior Presidential Adviser on Special Operations and son of President Museveni.

However, Todwong categorically rejected the claims, insisting that the purported decision had not been made as reported.

“My attention has been drawn to an online news story regarding a closed-door CEC meeting that took place on 10/11/2026,” Todwong stated.

“In the story, the author claimed that the NRM party rejected a bid to position General Muhoozi Kainerugaba as Uganda’s next president. That story is completely false.”

Todwong explained that CEC meetings routinely address a broad range of national and party matters, including Uganda’s political, social and economic development.

He emphasised that official party decisions must be communicated through established channels rather than anonymous sources or speculative media reports.

“Therefore, the Party will officially communicate through the right channel, at the right time, any decision it will have reached on any matter,” he stated.

The clarification is significant given longstanding public debate surrounding Muhoozi’s political ambitions and the question of eventual succession within the ruling party.

However, Todwong’s statement neither confirms that a formal endorsement proposal was tabled nor establishes that CEC approved Muhoozi as a future presidential candidate.

Instead, it directly challenges reports of a rejection while leaving the substance of the confidential deliberations undisclosed.

The distinction is politically important. Dismissing claims that an endorsement was rejected does not automatically mean an endorsement was approved.

With speculation continuing over the ruling party’s future leadership, the statement underscores NRM’s insistence that its internal decisions should not be presented as official positions before formal communication.

Todwong concluded by urging the public to disregard unverified online reports purportedly originating from the party.

“Please disregard any false online news that has not been officially released by the Party,” he said.