Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces General Muhoozi Kainerugaba has announced his plans to step down from the position as he prepares to hand over to a qualified officer while dedicating himself to Christ.

In a statement shared on social media platform X on Friday, November 6, 2026, Muhoozi said his time as head of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) was coming to an end.

“My time as CDF is coming to an end. I have accomplished all the tasks my God gave me. In a few months, I will hand over this office to a qualified officer. I shall dedicate my life to Christ after that.”

However, in a follow up post he said “Don’t worry, I’m still around. At least for another year.” He has not made any official announcement that he is resigning and has not said when a new military chief will be appointed.

Muhoozi also announced that he wants every private in the UPDF to be paid 2 million Ugandan shillings as their basic monthly salary. He said that he has always looked up to UPDF soldiers and that he wants to prioritise their pay increases while trying to improve the military housing.

“My heroes have always been UPDF soldiers. We are struggling to improve their accommodation. But now, as I prepare to leave the military, every UPDF private must be paid 2,000,000/- as his basic salary. This must start in the next financial year.”

This is more than what has been previously mentioned by Uganda’s Parliament. In April 2026 the Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs reported that the Ministry of Defence wanted to increase the basic monthly salary for a private to UGX816,280.

However, ministry officials said that there were not enough funds in the 2026/2027 financial year. Muhoozi did not mention how the increase would be funded or if it has been approved by the government.

Muhoozi was appointed to the position of Chief of Defence Forces by President Yoweri Museveni on March 21, 2024. He replaced General Wilson Mbasu Mbadi who became Minister of State in the Ministry of Trade. He officially took up his role on March 28, 2024 at a handing over ceremony in the UPDF’s Fourth Division Headquarters in Gulu.

Before being appointed as Chief of Defence Forces he was Commander of the Land Forces and had been leading the Special Forces Command. He became well known in the public eye after his appointment due to him being the son of Museveni who has been the President of Uganda since 1986.

During his time in the position he has remained very public and regularly comments on military, political and regional issues using social media. In another post on Friday he said that the CDF role requires a strong military leader.

“The office of CDF requires the bravest lion in UPDF. Not a lamb. Not a diplomat. That is what I have tried to be in my time.”

This announcement has caused some questions to be raised about who will replace Muhoozi.

Although he mentioned that he will hand over to a qualified officer, he did not mention who his possible replacement could be or how they will be chosen. He also did not mention if he will fully retire from the military.

At the moment Muhoozi is still Uganda’s current military chief and there has been no official announcement about when he will hand over his role.