A sharp power struggle within Uganda’s political leadership escalated after Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and leader of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), publicly called on the Ministry of Finance to redirect an alleged $14 million (about Shs52 billion) payment meant for businessman Odrek Rwabwogo to the military.
In a direct post on X (formerly Twitter), Gen. Muhoozi advised the Ministry of Finance to withhold the funds intended for Rwabwogo—whom he referred to as a criminal—and send them to the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) to build accommodation for soldiers.
Muhoozi Kainerugaba has posted on x saying “Ministry of Finance is advised to send all the $14 million they wanted to give the criminal Odrek to UPDF. We will build more accommodation for soldiers with it.”
The high-stakes clash pits President Yoweri Museveni’s son, Gen. Muhoozi, against his brother-in-law, Rwabwogo, who serves as a senior presidential adviser and chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID).
The dispute stems from allegations championed by PLU figures, including Kasambya County MP Daudi Kabanda, who claimed that the Ministry of Finance is in the process of disbursing $14 million to Rwabwogo or entities linked to him.
The funds are reportedly tied to a past transaction involving supplies, including military hardware and spare parts, delivered to the government of South Sudan. PLU leadership questioned why Uganda’s Treasury would settle a bill for goods supplied to a foreign government.
In addition to the monetary dispute, Gen. Muhoozi and his allies have intensified scrutiny of PACEID itself, deeming it an illegal entity operating outside standard government structures. Gen. Muhoozi warned government bodies against conducting business with the agency, asserting that PACEID lacks proper parliamentary oversight, an accounting officer, and a clear statutory framework.
Rwabwogo has vigorously defended the agency’s legitimacy and record. In statements made earlier, he asserted that PACEID was lawfully established by President Museveni in March 2022 to boost the nation’s export revenues. Rwabwogo credited the committee with raising Uganda’s export values from $4.5 billion following the COVID-19 pandemic to roughly $13 billion.
Addressing the allegations of wrongdoing, Rwabwogo urged that any grievances or evidence of corruption be handled through impartial judicial processes rather than political declarations.
Despite Rwabwogo’s defense, Gen. Muhoozi’s intervention marks a significant escalation. By framing the issue as a choice between funding military infrastructure and settling disputed private claims, the CDF has placed immense public pressure on the Ministry of Finance and Secretary to the Treasury.
Neither the Ministry of Finance nor State House has issued an official clarification regarding the contractual status of the $14 million claim or whether any disbursement has been halted.
However, the public exchange underscores deepening friction within the ruling establishment over accountability, state resources, and institutional legitimacy.
