JINJA — All roads lead to Kakindu Stadium as Jinja city on Sunday as residents prepare to receive First Son Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Lt Gen Muhoozi, the Commander of the Land Forces of the UPDF, will be in Jinja City to open the Council for East and Central Africa Football Association (Cecafa) women football championship.
“Gen Muhoozi, who is a friend of Busoga, will be with us tomorrow to launch the Cecafa women football tournament,” said Bunya West MP Iddi Isabirye, a member of the organising committee of the Muhoozi visit.
“We are having many activities beginning with a marathon run from the stadium. There will also be lots of entertainment from Busoga leading entertainers and other entertainers in the country,” he said.
However, a section of Jinja residents claim the visit is part of the ongoing countrywide Muhoozi birthday celebrations aimed at popularising the so-called Muhoozi Project, a move seen by many as aimed at having Gen Muhoozi succeed his father as president.
Muhoozi has in the recent past been holding birthday parties in different parts of the country to celebrate 48 years of life.
The parties have been held in Kampala, Masaka, Mbarara, Lira and Gulu, among others and have attracted a number of dignitaries, including Rwanda’s president Gen. Paul Kagame.
“Whether we celebrate his birthday or not, it does not add value to the Ugandan economy or reduce the prices of commodities that are sky rocketing every day,” said Fred Waiswa, a boda boda cyclist.
Waiswa said the purported visit and birthday celebrations are a move geared at popularizing the Muhoozi Project.
But Ivan Magotte, a vendor in the Jinja Central Market, said he was upbeat that Gen Muhoozi’s birthday celebrations had reached Jinja.
“We are happy to be part of the Muhoozi Project and to join other areas where the birthday celebrations have been held,” Magotte said.
Gen Muhoozi has not yet pronounced himself on the alleged Muhoozi Project.
However, in March this year, a section of Jinja youth petitioned him to stand for presidency in 2026 and succeed his father as president.
Roads closed
Meanwhile, Police have announced a raft of measures aimed at ensuring security during the visit of the increasingly powerful First Son — at least militarily.
Speaking during a news conference on Saturday evening, Kiira Region Police spokesperson James Mubi said some roads will be closed to traffic as a way of ensuring order in the city.
“Gabula and Narambai roads will be closed to traffic to ensure that there is order in the city,” ASP Mubi said.
He urged residents to maintain law and order as they receive Gen Muhoozi.
A total of eight countries are participating in this year’s women Cecafa football tournament. They include Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Rwanda, Zanzibar and hosts Uganda.
The tournament will end on June 5.
