President Museveni (L) and his son, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I General Muhoozi Kainerugaba has added his father President Yoweri Museveni’s surname to his name, adopting a new public identity as Muhoozi Kainerugaba Museveni (MKM), weeks after declaring his intention to contest Uganda’s presidency in 2031.
The Chief of Defence Forces made the announcement on Sunday, September 20, 2026, in a brief post on X, formerly Twitter.
“From now on my name is Muhoozi Kainerugaba Museveni. MKM,” he wrote.
The announcement effectively changes the initials he has used publicly for years from “MK” to “MKM”, introducing his father’s surname into the name by which he is increasingly being identified in Uganda’s political arena. The development comes as mobilisation around his prospective 2031 presidential bid gathers momentum.
Muhoozi, 52, publicly declared on August 25 that he would seek the presidency in 2031, saying he expected to have the support of his father, who has been President since 1986.
“I will stand for the highest office in the land in 2031. And we will win by the grace of Almighty God,” he said at the time.
His latest decision to incorporate Museveni into his name therefore comes at a politically significant moment, with the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), which he chairs, already engaged in nationwide mobilisation in support of his prospective candidature.
On September 1, PLU executive secretary David Kabanda formally announced Muhoozi’s 2031 bid at the organisation’s offices in Nakasero, Kampala. Kabanda said Muhoozi had instructed him to communicate his intention to contest the presidency in 2031 and beyond.
PLU subsequently launched a nationwide signature collection campaign, initially targeting 20 million endorsements before a later mobilisation exercise put the target at 25 million. The organisation has distributed registers across the country as supporters seek to demonstrate backing for Muhoozi’s political ambitions.
The name change has also been followed by increasingly visible public mobilisation. Muhoozi has indicated that he intends to travel across Uganda to communicate his political message.
“The political wave that is coming Uganda has never seen. Ugandans will speak with one voice for renewal and greatness. I will visit every corner of our great country and speak to our people. Abaana bakuzire,” he posted after announcing the new name.
His supporters have already begun adapting to the new identity. State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs Balaam Barugahara said supporters in Bunyoro and Tooro would add the pet name “Amooti” to MKM, while PLU politician David Kabanda has referred to him as “General MKM Inkotanye.”
The adoption of the Museveni surname also adds a new dimension to the public discussion surrounding political succession in the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM). Muhoozi had previously expressed interest in succeeding his father but withdrew from the 2026 presidential race and supported Museveni. His August declaration brought the succession question back into the centre of national political debate.
However, the public announcement does not necessarily mean that the change has already been completed for all legal and official records.
Uganda’s procedures require a person seeking to adopt a new name to publish a notice of intention in the Uganda Gazette and obtain a duly registered deed poll. The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) lists the Gazette notice and an original deed poll registered with the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) among the requirements for changing a name in the national register.
The High Court has also previously held that a deed poll and declarations alone do not complete a legal name change, with registration in the national identification system required.
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