The biggest political gossip shaking Kampala today is not even about President Yoweri Museveni taking another oath.
It is about the man standing closest to power.
And that man is Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
As Uganda woke up to one of the country’s most heavily guarded political events in recent years, social media timelines, political WhatsApp groups, bars around Kampala and corridors of Parliament were all buzzing over the same thing, Muhoozi’s growing grip around State House power during Museveni’s latest swearing-in ceremony.
Long before Museveni arrived at Kololo ceremonial grounds, Muhoozi had already become one of the main talking points.
The army chief reportedly oversaw major military preparations for the event, including parade rehearsals and aerial displays involving Sukhoi fighter jets that thundered over Kampala for days. The heavy military presence immediately triggered speculation about what many insiders are now openly calling Uganda’s “silent succession transition.”
Around Kampala, political gossipers were asking one question repeatedly:
“Is Muhoozi already running the show behind the scenes?”
The chatter became even louder after images and clips circulated online showing the general deeply involved in high-level ceremony preparations while senior ruling party figures appeared keen to publicly align themselves with him.
Museveni, now 81, officially extended his decades-long rule during Tuesday’s ceremony, but attention kept drifting back to his son.
For months now, Ugandan political circles have been flooded with whispers that Muhoozi is no longer just the outspoken son of the president but the clear project inside powerful sections of the state.
And today’s events only added more fuel.
Opposition supporters online claimed the inauguration looked less like a normal presidential swearing-in and more like a carefully staged handover rehearsal for the future.
Government supporters, however, pushed back hard, insisting Muhoozi was simply carrying out his military duties as army chief.
Still, even some neutral political observers admitted today’s optics were impossible to ignore.
The timing also made everything even hotter.
The swearing-in comes at a tense political moment where the controversial Sovereignty Bill is already causing major friction between government and opposition figures. Some opposition politicians have threatened court action while activists claim the proposed law could tighten pressure on dissenting voices and political organizing.
That political tension has made every move around State House feel even more loaded.
Meanwhile, security deployment around Kampala became another major talking point throughout the day. Daily Monitor reported increased security activity linked to the inauguration, with authorities urging the public not to panic.
But in true Kampala fashion, the tighter the security became, the louder the rumors grew.
Some social media users joked that “Kololo looked like a military base.”
Others claimed today confirmed that Uganda’s next political battle may not even be between NRM and opposition parties anymore but about who eventually controls Museveni’s legacy.
Muhoozi himself has spent years cultivating a powerful public image, mixing military authority with aggressive political messaging online. His loyal supporters, often called the “MK movement,” have repeatedly pushed the idea that he is ready for bigger leadership responsibilities.
Today’s ceremony will only supercharge those conversations.
Because while Museveni took the oath, many eyes in Uganda were fixed on the son standing nearby.