MP Kabanda: “I Will Forever Swear by Muhoozi, PLU”
Kasambya legislator defends General’s political activities, labels Daily Monitor “unpatriotic”
By DERRICK KIYONGA
Kasambya County legislator David Kabanda has emerged as one of the most vocal defenders of Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba and his political organisation, the Patriotic League Uganda (PLU), insisting that the first son was “invited into politics by his critics.”
In an extensive interview with Weekend Monitor at PLU’s Naguru offices, Mr Kabanda addressed criticism against Gen Muhoozi’s partisan political activities, which some argue contravene the UPDF Act.
“Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba didn’t invite himself into politics,” Mr Kabanda asserted. “Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba was invited into politics by his critics. He wasn’t a politician. Initially, the President has always told you that he wanted to do business with his uncle.”
According to Mr Kabanda, Muhoozi’s journey into the military began after a brief stint learning business. In 2000, a year after marrying the daughter of former Foreign Affairs minister Sam Kutesa, the first son enrolled at Sandhurst military academy in the UK.
“He left his wife behind to go and train to become a soldier. There’s no first son who can do that,” Mr Kabanda offered in defence.
From village to parliament
Mr Kabanda traced his political rise to Patrick Nkalubo, now LCV chairman for Sembabule, who “picked me up from the village” and secured him employment at Mbabule FM, one of Sam Kutesa’s companies.
“It’s from there I got to know Hon Kutesa who mentored me. And from there I met Gen Muhoozi through his ADC, Col Christopher Muvumba,” he explained.
The legislator revealed that his political activism was catalysed by Amama Mbabazi’s presidential ambitions, following a challenge from Mr Kutesa.
“Actually it was Hon Kutesa who told me, ‘with all these pro-Mbabazi young people, you want to say that the President doesn’t have young people?’ He told me: ‘Why aren’t you also creating an army of young people who are pro-Museveni?'”
Defence of Muhoozi’s tweets
When questioned about Gen Muhoozi’s active presence on social media platform X, Mr Kabanda defended the General’s communications, suggesting they fill a void left by silent government officials.
“Most of these government officials are just enjoying themselves without engaging people,” he said. “They don’t know that without the elite forces that Gen Muhoozi created, this government wouldn’t be in power.”
He challenged why Gen Muhoozi feels compelled to respond to foreign missions and opposition figures. “It’s because the people who are supposed to talk are not talking. You think it’s only Gen Muhoozi who has information that these people are saboteurs of our country? They also know but they keep quiet.”
Baryomunsi feud
Mr Kabanda dismissed criticism from Information Minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi regarding Gen Muhoozi’s dual roles as Chief of Defence Forces and presidential advisor on special operations.
“We must separate the two: substance and form,” he argued. “Supposing he is communicating in that capacity, as an advisor to his father, who is Baryomunsi to question Gen Muhoozi?”
He further questioned the minister’s loyalty: “Can Baryomunsi, who is a government minister, say that? Gen Muhoozi is in the army not out of convenience but out of conviction.”
On Daily Monitor
Addressing Gen Muhoozi’s critical posts about this publication, Mr Kabanda stated: “We, as PLU, don’t see Daily Monitor as a threat. We take Daily Monitor as unpatriotic because when you live in a country, you do your business, nobody is touching you, you do whatever you want. Yet you promote the enemies of that country.”
Pressed on the identity of these alleged “enemies,” Mr Kabanda concluded: “Daily Monitor knows. They know them.”
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