Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has officially adopted his father’s surname, announcing that he will now be known as Muhoozi Kainerugaba Museveni (MKM) . The announcement, made via a brief post on X on Sunday, September 20, 2026, marks a significant rebranding of the military chief’s public identity as his political mobilisation for the 2031 presidential election intensifies . “From now on my name is Muhoozi Kainerugaba Museveni. MKM,” the 52-year-old general wrote, adding his father President Yoweri Museveni’s surname to a name that has for years been associated with the initials “MK” and the MK Movement .
The name change follows Gen Muhoozi’s formal declaration of his 2031 presidential ambition on August 25, 2026, when he stated on X: “I will stand for the highest office in the land in 2031. And we will win by the grace of Almighty God” . He further claimed that with his father’s support, he would secure “90% in the elections in 2031,” describing President Museveni as “Mzee” and indicating that his father would serve as his campaign manager . The Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), which Gen Muhoozi chairs, subsequently launched his bid on September 1, 2026, with PLU executive secretary David Kabanda announcing that the general had instructed him to inform the public of his intention to run . Kabanda emphasised that the bid was “sanctioned by His Excellence the President,” adding that “there is no conflict between the two” .
Mobilisation efforts have since gained considerable momentum across the country. The PLU has launched a nationwide signature collection drive, initially targeting 20 million endorsements before raising the target to 25 million, with registers distributed across 146 districts . The campaign has attracted endorsements from prominent figures, including city tycoons Dr Sudhir Ruparelia and Godfrey Kirumira, former minister Capt Michael Mukula, and former opposition legislator Odonga Otto . Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa, who also serves as a PLU Central Executive Committee leader, publicly endorsed the bid, framing it as a grassroots initiative: “General MK is not imposing himself on Ugandans. We are imposing ourselves on him” . Buganda NRM MPs also gathered at Serena Hotel Kigo in Wakiso District to endorse Gen Muhoozi, with Defence Minister Kiryowa Kiwanuka acknowledging the party’s need to reassess its mobilisation strategy in the region .
The move has also reignited debate about the compatibility of Gen Muhoozi’s active military role with his political ambitions. Section 99 of the UPDF Act prohibits serving officers from participating in partisan politics, requiring them to resign or retire before seeking elective office . Deputy Speaker Tayebwa clarified that PLU is not conducting a formal presidential campaign at this stage because Gen Muhoozi remains an active military commander, and that any official campaign would only be launched after he exits the armed forces . Meanwhile, the legal status of the name change itself remains unclear, as Ugandan law requires a formal process involving a Gazette notice and registration with the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) for a name change to be legally recognised . For now, however, the clearest fact is what Gen Muhoozi himself stated: that he wants to be known as Muhoozi Kainerugaba Museveni, MKM .
