The 52-year-old army chief made the announcement in a series of posts on X on Tuesday, ending years of speculation over whether he would eventually seek to succeed his father.
“I will stand for the highest office in the land in 2031. And we will win by the grace of Almighty God,” Kainerugaba wrote.
He also predicted that he would secure 90 per cent of the vote, while revealing that his father would serve as his campaign manager.
“Mzee will be my campaign manager,” he said, referring to Museveni by the honorific commonly used for him in Uganda.
Kainerugaba, who heads Uganda’s army and the Patriotic League of Uganda, a political pressure group, has long been regarded as a potential successor to his father.
He had previously indicated plans to contest the 2026 presidential election but later withdrew from the race and deferred to Museveni, who subsequently won the election.
Museveni, 81, has ruled Uganda for more than four decades. During his tenure, constitutional changes removed presidential age and term limits, allowing him to remain in power beyond previous restrictions.
It remains uncertain whether Museveni will seek another term in 2031. However, his son’s latest declaration has made his ambition to succeed his father increasingly explicit.
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