Ruhamya Kainerugaba, the eldest son of Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has been commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).
Ruhamya was among the officer cadets commissioned by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni during a ceremony held on October 20, 2026, at the Uganda Military Academy in Kabamba, Mubende District.
His commissioning follows his graduation from the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom in August 2026, where he completed officer training alongside fellow Ugandan cadet Andrew Bakira Ruyondo.
The two were among six Ugandan officers who received military training abroad, with four others completing their courses in India.
The Kabamba ceremony brought together cadets from Professional Intake 09/2026 and students completing the Bachelor of Defence Studies programme under Intake 05/23-26.
President Museveni, who also serves as Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, inspected a guard of honour mounted by graduating cadets from the UPDF Land Forces, Air Force and Special Forces Command. Officers from allied countries also participated in the ceremony.
Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba attended the event alongside senior military officials and families of the graduating cadets.
From Private to Commissioned Officer
Ruhamya’s commissioning marks another milestone in his military career, which began when he joined the UPDF as a private before proceeding to Sandhurst for officer training.
At Sandhurst, he trained alongside Bakira, who hails from Kazo District and attended Ntare School.
Bakira distinguished himself during the course, receiving the International Sword, an award presented to an overseas cadet in recognition of outstanding performance in military training, leadership and discipline.
The two Ugandan officers graduated during Sandhurst’s Sovereign’s Parade in August 2026, an event attended by Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Sandhurst is a leading British military institution that prepares officer cadets for command responsibilities through training in leadership, military tactics, weapons handling, field operations and military planning.
Continuing a Family Military Tradition
Ruhamya’s military career also reflects a family tradition of service in Uganda’s armed forces.
His father, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, completed officer training at Sandhurst in 2000 before returning to Uganda to advance his military career.
During Ruhamya’s graduation in Britain, Gen Muhoozi received a Sandhurst alumni medal from the academy’s commandant, Maj Gen Nick Cowley.
President Museveni also congratulated Ruhamya and Bakira following their graduation in August, welcoming them into the UPDF.
“Now, God has blessed me with one of my grandchildren, Ruhamya, joining my big family of UPDF, having graduated, with his colleague, Bakira, from Sandhurst recently,” Museveni said in a statement released on August 16, 2026.
Ruhamya’s commissioning places him in the third generation of the Museveni family to serve in Uganda’s military, following his grandfather, President Museveni, and his father, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
The Uganda Military Academy in Kabamba remains a key UPDF training institution, preparing officers for leadership and command roles across the country’s armed forces.
