Three generations, one uniform: Museveni commissions CDF Muhoozi’s son into UPDF

Ruhamya Kainerugaba joins Uganda’s commissioned officer corps after training at Britain’s Royal Military Academy Sandhurst

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni commissioned his grandson, Second Lieutenant Ruhamya Kainerugaba, into the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), marking another milestone in the military career of the son of Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

Ruhamya was among 280 officer cadets commissioned at Uganda Military Academy-Kabamba in Mubende District on October 20, 2026, during a ceremony presided over by President Museveni, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.

His commissioning has attracted public attention because it brings three generations of the President’s immediate family into focus in connection with Uganda’s military establishment.

Second Lieutenant Ruhamya Kainerugaba celebrates his commissioning alongside his father, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, and grandfather, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. Photo: Official event coverage.

From Sandhurst to the UPDF officer corps

Ruhamya’s commissioning at Kabamba followed his completion of officer training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom in August 2026.

He trained alongside fellow Ugandan officer Andrew Bakira Ruyondo. The two were among six cadets who received military training abroad, with four others undertaking their courses in India.

Ruhamya’s father, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, also trained at Sandhurst, graduating in 2000 before rising through the UPDF ranks to become Chief of Defence Forces.

The younger Kainerugaba’s transition into the commissioned officer corps therefore marks a new stage in a military career that has already attracted considerable public interest.

Museveni commissions 280 officers

The Kabamba ceremony brought together graduates from two programmes: the Professional Cadet Course and the Bachelor of Defence Studies programme.

According to the UPDF, the commissioned group comprised 193 professional cadets and 87 graduates of the Bachelor of Defence Studies programme. Eleven of the newly commissioned officers were women.

The event also included officers from partner countries, reflecting the military’s regional training and cooperation arrangements.

Addressing the graduates, Museveni congratulated them on joining what he described as an honourable institution and urged them to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their responsibilities.

He emphasised that national defence depends not only on military strength but also on a strong economy capable of sustaining the armed forces.

The President highlighted wealth creation in agriculture, manufacturing, services and information and communications technology as important foundations for economic growth and national security.

He also called for investment in science and technology, continued professional training and a strong relationship between the army and the population.

Muhoozi welcomes the new officers

Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who attended the ceremony, congratulated the newly commissioned officers on completing their training and urged them to uphold discipline, courage and loyalty to the country.

The CDF also highlighted the UPDF’s emphasis on professionalisation, equipment acquisition, training and improvements in soldiers’ welfare.

He encouraged the new officers to report to their assigned units and gain practical experience, describing them as part of the force’s future leadership.

Defence and Veteran Affairs Minister Kiryowa Kiwanuka also urged the graduates to maintain integrity and respect the Constitution, stressing that leadership should be demonstrated through service and responsibility rather than rank alone.

Meanwhile, Uganda Military Academy-Kabamba Commandant Brig. Gen. Saad Katemba highlighted the importance of combining academic knowledge with practical military training to prepare officers for the demands of modern defence and security operations.

A prominent family milestone under public scrutiny

Ruhamya’s commissioning has renewed attention to the military careers of President Museveni’s family, particularly as his father heads the armed forces.

The family connection is likely to remain a subject of public discussion, given the importance of the military in Uganda’s political and security dispensation.

However, the commissioning itself formally marks Ruhamya’s entry into the ranks of commissioned UPDF officers, with the responsibilities that come with military service.

As with other newly commissioned officers, his future professional standing will depend on his conduct, competence, leadership and performance in the assignments entrusted to him.

The ceremony at Kabamba was therefore both a personal milestone for the Kainerugaba family and a significant occasion for the wider group of officers beginning their careers in Uganda’s armed forces.

For the 280 graduates, the commissioning represents the start of a new phase of service in which discipline, professional development and responsibility will be central to their careers.

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