Museveni Celebrates Grandson Ruhamya Kainerugaba’s Sandhurst Graduation

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has formally congratulated his grandson, Officer Cadet Ruhamya Kainerugaba, and fellow Ugandan Officer Cadet Andrew Bakira Ruyondo, following their successful graduation from the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom.

In a statement released on Sunday, August 16, 2026, the President, who serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, officially welcomed the two newly commissioned officers into the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) and expressed gratitude for Uganda’s continued stability.

“Now, God has blessed me with one of my grandchildren, Ruhamya, joining my big family of UPDF, having graduated, with his colleague, Bakyira, from Sandhurst recently. Congratulations Ruhamya, congratulations Bakyira,” President Museveni stated, signing off with his traditional title, “Ssaabalwanyi.”

The President used the occasion to issue a broader call to the youth, stating that military service provides a solid framework for life. He encouraged other young Ugandans to consider joining the armed forces to build a strong foundation for their futures.

The commissioning of Ruhamya Kainerugaba marks a significant historical milestone for Uganda’s First Family, establishing a three-generation military lineage.

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Ruhamya is the son of Uganda’s current Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba. General Muhoozi himself walked the same historic grounds at the academy’s campus in Surrey, completing the exact same officer commissioning course and graduating in the year 2000.

The latest graduation ceremony, which took place during the Sovereign’s Parade on August 5, 2026, served as the climax of 44 grueling weeks of intensive physical, tactical, and leadership conditioning under Sandhurst’s Commissioning Course 253. General Muhoozi was in attendance to witness his son’s milestone, having earlier shared reflections on the shared hardships of military training separated by over two decades.

Uganda secured further international prestige during the ceremony through Officer Cadet Andrew Bakira Ruyondo. Ruyondo distinguished himself among international peers by winning the highly coveted International Sword, an award conferred by the Commandant of the Academy to the most outstanding non-British officer cadet in the intake.

Back home, the graduation drew warm reactions from senior government officials and the public. A viral photograph of Ruhamya sharing a smiling moment with his grandmother, First Lady Janet Museveni, attracted widespread attention on social media.

Agriculture Minister Frank Tumwebaze described the moment as heartwarming, while Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara publicly congratulated both the newly minted officers and the First Family on the achievement.