Uganda's President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni takes his oath of office for a seventh term during his inauguration ceremony at Kololo Ceremonial grounds in Kampala on May 12, 2026. [AFP]
Uganda's tempestuous army chief has once again vowed to run for president and succeed his long-ruling father, but palace intrigues are swirling as he faces a challenge from a brother-in-law.
The east African country has been ruled by President Yoweri Museveni for more than four decades, but as the 81-year-old has taken more of a backseat in recent months, speculation has mounted over who will succeed him.
Museveni's son, army chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has made no secret of his desire for the top job, announcing -- then retracting -- his intention to run multiple times over the years.
The heir-apparent has been flexing his muscles of late, ordering crackdowns on rivals, opposition figures and the media -- even boasting of kidnapping and torturing opponents.
The 52-year-old is a prolific and provocative user of X, veering between threats of violence and plans to marry US popstar Beyonce.
This week, he vowed he would run for the presidency at the next election in 2031, expecting to "get 90 percent".
But he faces competition from within the powerful first family, with some backing his more sedate brother-in-law, Odrek Rwabwogo, 56, who has been quietly gathering support for years within the bureaucracy and presents himself as a reformer.