Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has publicly endorsed President William Ruto’s bid for a second term in Kenya’s 2027 General Election, introducing a new regional dimension to Kenya’s increasingly active political contest.
In a post on X, Muhoozi praised National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula and announced that he had appointed him as his political envoy, or “Mutume”, in Kenya to mobilise support for Ruto.
“Now that I have enough Batume in Uganda, I appoint Rt. Honourable Moses Wetangula as my Mutume in Kenya. He will support my President William Ruto’s re-election. Tunataka Second term,” Muhoozi wrote.
The remarks do not amount to a formal endorsement by the Ugandan government, but represent an unusually direct intervention in the domestic political affairs of a neighbouring country by Uganda’s military chief.
Wetang’ula has been a prominent member of the Kenya Kwanza administration and has continued to campaign for Ruto’s re-election while defending the government’s development agenda.
Muhoozi’s intervention also adds another chapter to his often eventful relationship with Kenya.
In October 2022, shortly after Ruto assumed office, Muhoozi caused a diplomatic uproar after posting that he and his troops could capture Nairobi within two weeks. The remarks prompted President Yoweri Museveni to apologise to Kenya and Ruto, while Muhoozi was subsequently promoted to the rank of full General.
Muhoozi later visited Nairobi and held discussions with Ruto as the two countries sought to ease tensions. Since then, the Ugandan military chief has repeatedly expressed support for the Kenyan president.
The relationship between Ruto and Museveni also predates Ruto’s presidency. During his tenure as Deputy President between 2013 and 2022, Ruto made several visits to Uganda and publicly described Museveni as a mentor and senior regional statesman.
The two administrations have maintained close economic and strategic ties, particularly around regional integration, security and trade. Uganda relies heavily on the Northern Corridor, which links the landlocked country to the Port of Mombasa through Kenya.
A politically stable relationship between Kampala and Nairobi is therefore of significant economic importance to Uganda, particularly as the two countries seek to strengthen cross-border trade and regional infrastructure.
Muhoozi, who is President Museveni’s son and heads the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), is also regarded as a key figure in Uganda’s succession politics, although the question of who will eventually succeed Museveni remains politically sensitive.
His latest comments come as Kenya’s political parties and prospective presidential contenders increasingly position themselves ahead of the 2027 election.
Ruto is seeking a second five-year term, while the opposition is expected to mount a concerted challenge to his administration.
Muhoozi’s endorsement is therefore likely to attract attention not only because of his personal ties to Ruto, but also because of the broader political, security and economic relationship between Kenya and Uganda.
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