ASUMAN KIYINGI: Endorsement should not violate the Constitution

What the report says

Watchdog Uganda published an opinion piece by senior advocate Asuman Kiyingi arguing that public endorsement of Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, should not be allowed to conflict with constitutional rules. The article responds to a growing endorsement campaign that, according to the publisher, has drawn ministers, members of parliament, business figures and other prominent supporters, including Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa.

Kiyingi says Ugandans are free to admire or support any prospective presidential candidate, but he distinguishes that from an election and questions whether a campaign for a serving military commander can be treated as merely civic activity. He cites constitutional and statutory provisions, including the requirement that the Uganda People’s Defence Forces remain non-partisan and subordinate to civilian authority, and argues that serving officers should first leave military service before pursuing political office.

The piece places the discussion in the broader context of succession politics and party competition, saying the National Resistance Movement should open its processes to qualified contenders rather than allow what it describes as a prearranged path to power. While the article is opinion, it reflects a wider debate in Uganda about the role of the military in politics, the boundaries of endorsement campaigns and how leadership transitions should be managed under the Constitution.