Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has defended the absence of Kasambya County MP Daudi Kabanda from the latest cabinet appointments, stating that his current political role outweighs any ministerial position.
In a statement shared on Thursday, Muhoozi described Kabanda, the Secretary General of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), as holding a “much more important position” than a cabinet slot.
He said Kabanda’s responsibility within the political movement is central to mobilising young people and advancing national transformation.
“My young brother Hon. Kabanda is the General Secretary of the Patriotic League of Uganda, a much more important position than being a cabinet minister,” Muhoozi stated. “His job is to organise and mobilise the millions of young people in our country.”
The remarks come amid public debate following President Yoweri Museveni’s recent cabinet reshuffle, which saw several new appointments but excluded Kabanda, a vocal political figure and key ally within PLU circles.
Muhoozi further suggested that Kabanda’s eventual entry into cabinet would be tied to broader political considerations within the ruling establishment.
“Kabanda will get a ministerial job when Todwong gets one,” he said, referencing Richard Todwong, the Secretary General of the National Resistance Movement (NRM).
The statement signals an apparent balancing act between political structures within the ruling party and emerging movements such as PLU, which has increasingly positioned itself as a youth-driven platform aligned with government interests but operating with distinct mobilisation strategies.
Muhoozi emphasised that PLU does not prioritise government appointments, framing the organisation as focused on long-term national goals rather than political office.
“In PLU, we do not look for government jobs. Our primary interest is the transformation of our country and people,” he said.
The comments are likely to fuel further discussion about the role of PLU in Uganda’s political landscape, particularly its influence among young voters and its relationship with the NRM-led government.