Former government spokesperson and Member of Parliament representing older persons, Ofwono Opondo, has criticised National Resistance Movement (NRM) ministers and senior politicians endorsing General Muhoozi Kainerugaba for the 2031 presidency, arguing that their actions could be interpreted as a vote of no confidence in President Yoweri Museveni. Opondo questioned why government officials were already campaigning for a potential successor when Museveni had only recently secured a fresh presidential mandate.
Speaking on Capital FM’s Capital Gang programme on Saturday, Opondo expressed concern about the growing number of NRM leaders publicly declaring support for Muhoozi’s possible presidential bid. He argued that the timing of these endorsements raises serious questions about the confidence the same leaders have in the president they currently serve. According to Opondo, promoting another presidential aspirant so soon after an election sends a politically significant message that should not be ignored.
“Five months after an election and immediately you see a beeline of ministers endorsing a presidential aspirant. What does it tell you? Isn’t it…a vote of no confidence in the president, who was given a mandate five months ago?” Opondo asked. His remarks have drawn attention to the growing debate within the ruling party over succession, political loyalty and the appropriate time to begin promoting potential candidates for future elections.
The legislator also questioned the conduct of some Cabinet members, arguing that senior government officials should approach matters of party leadership with seriousness and discipline. Opondo insisted that NRM members must respect the party’s established rules instead of rushing to publicly endorse a future presidential candidate while Museveni remains in office. “I am an elder of the NRM and I am honest. We must follow the rules,” he said, emphasising the importance of order and respect for party procedures.
Opondo’s criticism comes as the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), chaired by Muhoozi, continues mobilising political support for the general’s proposed 2031 presidential bid. Several government officials and political mobilisers have visited PLU offices to declare their backing for Muhoozi, turning the succession question into an increasingly visible political issue. While supporters may view the endorsements as early preparations for the future, Opondo believes they risk creating the impression that confidence in the sitting president is already weakening.
On October 2, 2026, Agriculture Minister Frank Tumwebaze reportedly led a delegation of Tooro Members of Parliament to the PLU chairman’s office in Nakasero, where they endorsed Muhoozi. The delegation met PLU officials, including Daudi Kabanda, who heads the chairman’s office, and Michael Mawanda, the organisation’s director of mobilisation. The visit added to a growing list of political engagements aimed at building support for Muhoozi ahead of the next presidential election cycle.
Other senior officials have also joined the endorsement campaign. State Minister for Local Government Justine Nameere Nsubuga reportedly endorsed Muhoozi during a visit to the PLU secretariat in Naguru on September 22, 2026, while Internal Affairs Minister Juma Witonze Kisekka followed on October 13, reportedly leading a delegation of Mpigi mobilisers. Kampala Minister Minsa Kabanda and former minister Musa Echweru were also reportedly assigned coordination roles in the exercise as PLU pursued its stated target of collecting 20 million signatures.
Beyond the internal party debate, Opondo warned that premature succession politics could create uncertainty about the government’s direction and potentially affect investor confidence. His remarks have placed fresh attention on the relationship between Museveni’s current leadership and the growing campaign to position Muhoozi for the future. As more NRM figures publicly declare their preferences, the central question remains whether the endorsements represent ordinary political preparation for 2031 or risk undermining confidence in a president who still holds the party’s leadership. For Opondo, the timing of the campaign is itself a concern that NRM leaders should take seriously.
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