Lt. Col. Kainerugaba (R) and his wife Charlotte (2nd R) at the ceremony on Saturday in Kisubi
Kampala
Lt. Col. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the First Son, has for the first time spoken out publicly about his decision to join the army, saying it informed by the quest to take over from the old guard of liberators and ensure sustained peace in the country.
Lt. Col. Kainerugaba, who now commands the elite Special Forces Group (SFG), told his former school mates at St. Marys College, Kisubi on Saturday that the decision was also influenced by the insecurity that prevailed in the country, especially by 1994 when he completed high school.
Tough 90s
Joseph Kony (LRA rebel leader) was in the north, ADF was strong in the western part of the country and later on bombs were being thrown all over in Kampala. So we decided to join the UPDF because we could not just sit and watch, he said.
The function, organised by schools old boys association, was meant to honour Lt. Col. Kainerugaba for executing and serving his country with a rare humility. The old boys said he was the first UPDF trained and commissioned officer since 1976 and had gone on to establish a paratroopers unit.
Besides hoping the honour would encourage other young people to emulate the First Sons selfless service, the old boys also said Lt. Col. Muhoozi deserved recognition for supporting welfare improvement initiatives, citing the Mama Kazi scheme championed by his wife, Charlotte, and Capt. Edith Nakalema to enhance income of SFG soldiers.
While he remained silent on future political ambitions, Lt. Col. Kainerugaba gave credit to efforts of young generation of military officers that joined the UPDF from the 1990s in dealing with insecurity in the country. With the young people in the army, all the criminals were defeated and now we have unprecedented peace, he said, adding that the young should begin to determine the destiny of the countrys affairs.
