On Twitter, the Ugandan president’s son has mused about invading neighbouring Kenya, praised Russian President Vladimir Putin and offered cattle for the Italian prime minister’s hand in marriage.

Pointedly, when he declared his presidential ambitions Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, slammed the old generation of leaders, including his father, President Yoweri Museveni and uncle, Gen Salim Saleh, for allegedly dominating the young generation.

While many of his tweets are dismissed as laughable, the ones about succeeding his father in this East African nation are a source of concern for some. The 48-year-old serving military officer and presidential advisor on special operations stated that he has had enough of waiting for his turn and that time is running out for him.

“The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is 42 years old, while the Prime Minister of Finland is 37. Some of us are approaching the age of 50. We’ve had enough of waiting. We will not back down! Fidel Castro, my HERO, was elected president at the age of 32. I’m going to be 49 years old soon. It’s just not right. The presidency of the country is intended for young men,” he recently tweeted.

Many Ugandans want decisive political change after nearly four decades of the same government, but the son of President Yoweri Museveni is already claiming victory.

“I will be president of Uganda after my father,” Muhoozi Kainerugaba tweeted earlier this month. “Those fighting the truth will be very disappointed!”

Museveni, 78 and in power for 37 years, hasn’t said when he will leave office. Kainerugaba is at the peak of his military career as a four-star general who is a linchpin of the security apparatus supporting Museveni. But at 48, Kainerugaba is now six years older than his father was when he became president, underscoring what some see as the root of his increasingly impatient claim to the presidency. With his tweets, which Ugandans try to decode for signs of what’s coming, he has injected a measure of intrigue in politics midway through Museveni’s sixth elected term.

“How many of you agree that our time has come? Enough with the elderly ruling us. We are being dominated. It is now our generation’s turn to shine. Retweet and like,” the former UPDF land forces commander said in a series of tweets before assuring his followers that he will run for president in 2026.

“You’ve wanted me to say it for a long time! Okay, in the name of Jesus Christ, my God, in the name of all Ugandans and people around the world, and in the name of our great revolution, I will run for president in 2026!” he declared.

Does Kainerugaba, described by some Ugandans as the “standby generator,” have a legitimate path to the presidency? Or will he take matters into his own hands?

These questions and many others are perceived by some analysts as discreet message to Ugandans that Museveni is preparing to exit power.

“If even the son could no longer bear his father’s endless rule, why should others tolerate it?” asked columnist Alan Tacca, writing in the Daily Monitor newspaper. “Right now, many of his supporters and professional opportunists seem unsure which way to jump.”

Kainerugaba has staged rallies in the past year that he says are to introduce him to youth across the country, even though serving army officers are legally barred from engaging in partisan affairs. He also has attacked the ruling party, led by his father, as a “reactionary” group full of corrupt criminals.

The son’s verbal attacks have sparked a backlash, with the vice president saying Museveni will run again in 2026 and other officials asserting their faith in the president.

But tensions between Kainerugaba and some in the ruling party have promoted him as his own man, said Frank Gashumba, an entrepreneur and political analyst who is one of Kainerugaba’s most prominent supporters.

Gashumba spoke of Kainerugaba as an honest leader who would be intolerant of official corruption in the authoritarian style of Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who is often praised by Kainerugaba. “I see another Kagame,” he said, explaining why he believes some in the ruling party are unnerved. “I see he wants to bring in the iron hand.”

The president’s son could not be reached for an interview.

Kainerugaba, who is currently serving as a military adviser to his father, was born in neighbouring Tanzania when Museveni was active in the clandestine struggle against Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. He attended boarding school in Uganda before receiving his military education in Britain and the US. He has never served in a civilian capacity.

His quick rise through the army ranks proved controversial over the years amid allegations of a secret project to groom him for the presidency. A purge in recent years of Museveni’s contemporaries in the military is widely seen as paving the path for Kainerugaba, whose perceived allies now control a wide range of military assets.

Museveni has said nothing publicly to disavow or encourage Kainerugaba’s political ambitions. But while celebrating the son’s birthday last year, he warned that while he was patient with corrupt officials, this was not the case with Kainerugaba. “He will fight corruption,” said Museveni. The comment was seen as a sign that Museveni sees Kainerugaba as Uganda’s” Gen Muhoozi tweeted.

Gen Muhoozi, who has recently openly criticised members of his father’s party, the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), which has been in power since 1986, when Mr Museveni shot his way to State House through guerrilla warfare, also claimed that Uganda has no opposition.

“All there is Truth and Lies!” “The time for the people to choose between them is quickly approaching,” tweeted the outspoken General, whose father recently assured him that he would leave Twitter due to his outbursts, which have frequently caused controversy, particularly in diplomatic circles and his father’s party.

The “nonsense of certain people stealing our people’s wealth because they are ‘connected’ will end forever!” he says. We will rebuild and rehabilitate our country from the ravages of corruption!”

The former commander of the elite Special Forces Command (SFC), whom his father has always described as a son of the revolution, stated that his movement (MK), which he has been using to seemingly endear himself to the electorate, is a nationalist, non-sectarian, progressive, democratic and Pan-Africanist organisation.

“We believe in all the people of Uganda and Africa!” he exclaimed, before proposing that members of his movement set aside one day each month for community service. I propose that it be the last Sunday of the month. From 10:00 am. to 12:00 pm. On that day, we will clean our villages, towns, and cities. On March 26th, I will play my part.”

Although Kainerugaba has previously denied claims that he intends to succeed his 78-year-old father, one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders, he has risen quickly through Uganda’s army ranks.

• Tell / Agencies report