Outgoing commander of the elite Special Forces Command, (SFC) Maj. Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba has spoken out for the first time about this month’s extraordinary reshuffle in the army’s top brass, expressing comfort with his new position as the President’s Special Adviser in charge of Operations.
Gen Muhoozi also articulated his support and confidence in the new team placed at the helm of the UPDF by the Commander in Chief Gen Yoweri Museveni, including his successor Col Don Nabaasa.
In an Interview with NTV, Muhoozi revealed that the changes and his redeployment to State House did not come as a surprise, describing it as a normal process of the army.
Having served for more than two terms in accordance with the normal time frame of the periodic shuffles, Muhoozi said he was prepared when he heard that he was being moved.
“I knew it,” he said. “I knew that it was already time for change.”
As the Operations adviser for the President, Muhoozi’s new role entails advising the Commander in Chief on enhancing the capabilities of the national security organs’ special operation forces, some of which are in the army and others in the Police.
His new office therefore, he says, expands his work into the overall national security purview, as opposed to simply commanding the SFC, whose primary role is providing security to the President.
During the interview, Muhoozi heaped praises on his successor Col Don Nabaasa, who he said is well suited to take charge of the elite force.
“He is experienced, capable, he’s had a long period of time within the PPU, PGB, SFC, he knows what the work entails, and he doesn’t want anybody looking over his shoulder.”
While Muhoozi is confident that Nabaasa will have full command of the SFC, he said he will not hesitate to provide him with help in terms of advice, whenever he needs it.
Project:
Commenting on speculation that followed the recent reshuffle in which local and foreign media and commentators suggested that his removal from SFC was to prepare him for a larger political post, possibly the Presidency, Muhoozi said there was no basis for this.
He noted, “This so called (Muhoozi) project doesn’t exist.”
“As far as this new position preparing me for a new political position, I don’t think that’s the case because I know the path to politics; it is different from the one I am on right now.”
“If I retired and went and stood in my constituency, you could say I am now taking on a political career. But now this is far from that. I am not considering a political career now.”
The seven years the 42 year old has commanded the Special Forces, he said he was proud of a number of achievements, most of which are classified.
For instance he said, he was happy with the way they tackled the issues of soldiers accommodation, providing training facilities among others.