Minister tasked to explain Muhoozi’s quick promotion

MPs ask Dr Crispus Kiyonga to explain circumstances surrounding Brig. Muhoozi’s recruitment in the army.

MPs yesterday asked the Minister of Defence to explain reports that Brig. Muhoozi Keinerugaba, the commander of the Special Forces, was irregularly recruited into the army.

Dr Crispus Kiyonga was meeting the House Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs when Mr Muwanga Kivumbi (Butambala) and others asked him to explain how Brig. Muhoozi, who is also the President’s son, was recruited into the army.

The MPs also asked the minister to explain circumstances surrounding Brig. Muhoozi’s accelerated promotion through the army ranks.

Dr Kiyonga denied the accusation and instead said there are similar cases of accelerated promotions which set a precedent. He cited the case of former Army commander and current FDC president, Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu, the current army chief, Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, and the late Brig. Noble Mayombo.

“Brig Muhoozi has been promoted on merit because he has trained, and is very hard-working like the case was with Muntu,” Dr Kiyonga said, adding that in UPDF there is a system which caters for rapid rise in ranks based on performance and training.

He, however, declined to give evidence of what he said was Brig. Muhoozi’s hard work.

Early this month, senior opposition leader Kizza Besigye, re-opened debate around the Muhoozi matter.
President Museveni has since responded to the allegations in a series of written articles in the media.

Brig Muhoozi was promoted to Brigadier in August last year, and made the first commander of the elite Special Forces Command.
The committee also asked about the delayed salary of soldiers serving in Somali at the African Union mission.

Dr Kiyonga said all salaries have been paid save for the part of their payment that comes from the AU. “We have even paid their February 2013 salaries but the AU top up security allowances is what delays because the AU rarely has that money at hand,” he said.

He also said the soldiers were last paid their security top-up allowance in November 2012.

snaturinda@ug.nationmedia.com