Uganda: Museveni gives son security job

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has appointed his son as head of an elite army unit which will have special responsibility for his security, the Ugandan military said.

The role of the army's Special Forces unit, led by Museveni's son, Lieutenant-Colonel Kainerugaba Muhoozi, is being expanded to include responsibility for the Presidential Guard.

"This is not a new appointment to him but an added responsibility," Ugandan defence spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Felix Kulayigye told AFP.

Muhoozi’s appointment immediately drew criticism from the opposition which said Museveni was preparing the way for his son to succeed him.

"The President should be ashamed by this. How will he then deny that he is not grooming his son to succeed him," said Hussein Kyanjo, defence spokesperson for the opposition Forum for Democratic Change.

"Why should the President appoint his son to be in charge of his security as if we do not have other military officers to do the same job?" he added.

Muhoozi, 36, was appointed head of the Special Forces in 2008. He received training in the US and graduated from Sandhurst military academy in Britain in 2000.

Source: SAPA (28/02/2010)