BY Karim Were
KAMPALA. Businessmen Sudhir Ruparelia and Godfrey Kirumira have joined political and business leaders in backing Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s ambition to become Uganda’s president in 2031, according to information provided for this report.
The reported endorsement took place at the headquarters of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), where supporters have been mobilising behind the Chief of Defence Forces’ political ambitions.
The development comes as PLU steps up its nationwide campaign to build support for Gen. Muhoozi, who has publicly declared his intention to contest the presidency in 2031. The organisation launched the bid on September 1, 2026, under the theme “Muhoozi Gwe Akimala.”
Business leaders join political mobilisation
The reported participation of Ruparelia and Kirumira adds a prominent business dimension to the growing political mobilisation around Gen. Muhoozi.
However, the specific details of their endorsement—including the date of the meeting, the remarks they made and whether they issued a joint statement—were not independently verified for this report. No direct quotations from either businessman are therefore attributed here.
Their reported support comes at a time when PLU is seeking to broaden its appeal beyond political structures and establish a nationwide network of supporters.
The organisation has described itself as a civic platform that works closely with the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM). Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa said on September 7 that PLU was intended to complement the NRM rather than compete with it.
Muhoozi’s 2031 bid
Gen. Muhoozi, who is also the chairman of PLU, announced his intention to seek the presidency in 2031 during a meeting in Kampala on September 1.
David Kabanda, the executive secretary in the office of the PLU national chairperson, told supporters that Gen. Muhoozi had instructed him to communicate the decision. He also said President Yoweri Museveni had sanctioned the bid.
The announcement marked a change from Gen. Muhoozi’s position in 2024, when he said he would not contest the 2026 presidential election and instead endorsed his father, President Museveni.
PLU has since begun a signature-collection campaign to demonstrate support for the proposed candidacy. The organisation has said it wants to collect millions of signatures across the country, with endorsement registers being distributed through its structures.
A campaign taking shape
The endorsement drive is being organised through PLU’s networks across Uganda. The organisation has announced plans for community barazas and other mobilisation activities in the country’s districts.
PLU Secretary General Fadil Twalla said the group was seeking to build a broad civic platform connecting citizens with government programmes and promoting socio-economic transformation. He also warned against individuals demanding money from members of the public in exchange for registration numbers.
The organisation’s leadership has presented the mobilisation as part of a wider effort to strengthen its grassroots structures. In June, more than 15 ministers and more than 200 Members of Parliament were reported to have pledged support for PLU during a leadership transition at its headquarters in Kampala.
Business and political significance
The reported endorsement by two prominent businessmen is significant because it brings the business community into a political discussion that has largely been driven by political leaders and PLU supporters.
Ruparelia is a well-known Ugandan businessman, while Kirumira has also been associated with business and football administration. Their reported presence at the PLU headquarters signals the interest of sections of the business community in the country’s political succession debate.
However, an endorsement does not by itself establish the position of the wider business community. It also does not indicate that all business leaders support Gen. Muhoozi’s bid.
The political significance of the development will depend on whether the reported support translates into broader public backing and how the campaign develops ahead of the 2031 election.
Constitutional and legal questions
Gen. Muhoozi’s current position as Chief of Defence Forces also places his political ambitions within Uganda’s constitutional and legal framework.
The Constitution requires the Uganda People’s Defence Forces to remain non-partisan and subordinate to civilian authority. The UPDF Act further provides that a serving officer who wishes to seek political office must first resign or retire from the defence forces in accordance with the law.
PLU leaders have said Gen. Muhoozi will retire from the army at an appropriate time before beginning active campaigning for the presidency.
The legal requirements remain an important part of the discussion surrounding his candidacy, particularly as the mobilisation campaign becomes more public.
What the endorsement means
The reported backing by Ruparelia and Kirumira is part of a wider pattern of political and civic leaders publicly associating themselves with Gen. Muhoozi’s 2031 ambitions.
For PLU, the challenge will be to convert public endorsements into an organised and credible national campaign while maintaining clarity about its relationship with the NRM.
For the wider public, the development provides another indication that Uganda’s political succession debate is already taking shape well before the 2031 election.
The reported endorsement should therefore be understood as a political development, rather than as evidence that Gen. Muhoozi’s candidacy has been formally accepted by the Electoral Commission or that the election outcome is predetermined.
Conclusion
The reported support of Sudhir Ruparelia and Godfrey Kirumira for Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s 2031 presidential ambitions adds to the growing public mobilisation around his bid.
As PLU expands its activities, the campaign is likely to attract further attention from political leaders, the business community and the public. Its progress will be measured not only by the number of endorsements it receives, but also by its ability to operate within Uganda’s legal framework and demonstrate broad, credible support.
Editorial note: The specific endorsement by Sudhir Ruparelia and Godfrey Kirumira was supplied as the basis for this story. Their individual statements and the exact details of the meeting should be confirmed before publication.
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