KAMPALA – Nearly a decade before a Wall Street Journal profile sparked debate over his political ambitions, Uganda’s first son and senior presidential advisor on special operations, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, was voted by Harvard University students and faculty in 2015 to speak at the prestigious John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum in the United States.
The revelation highlights a lesser-known facet of Muhoozi’s international recognition at a time when he was still a brigadier in the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).
The African Students Association at Harvard Kennedy School, with support from faculty members, organized a poll in which students nominated and voted for emerging African leaders capable of shaping the continent’s role on the global stage.
Muhoozi topped a shortlist that included heavyweight figures such as Nigerian economist Akinwumi Adesina, philanthropist Mo Ibrahim, Zimbabwean telecoms mogul Strive Masiyiwa, and Kenya’s former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga.
The nomination was spearheaded by Morrison Rwakakamba, a Ugandan graduate student at the time, who worked with fellow student Andy Agaba Christian to prepare a persuasive brief highlighting Muhoozi’s military career, his involvement in regional security operations, and his vision for Africa in an era of globalization and climate change.
“Yes, it’s true. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba was already engaged in geopolitical efforts to stabilize Eastern and Central Africa, quietly emerging as a consequential leader,” Rwakakamba told ChimpReports on Friday. “We believed his voice could help shape Africa’s positioning globally, and students and faculty agreed.”
Despite being selected, Muhoozi did not attend the Kennedy Forum due to a scheduling conflict with a special military assignment. At the time, he was actively involved in regional operations, collaborating with neighboring states to counter insurgent groups.
The John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum, established in 1966 as a living memorial to the late U.S. president, is recognized as one of the world’s premier platforms for debate on politics, public service, and global challenges. The forum routinely hosts presidents, prime ministers, diplomats, and thought leaders, with unscripted audience sessions that test speakers in candid dialogue. Past African speakers have included Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame and Tanzania’s former leader Jakaya Kikwete.
The resurfacing of Muhoozi’s Harvard recognition comes just days after the Wall Street Journal published a profile titled “He Jokes About Trump and Invading Kenya and May Be Uganda’s Next President,” which highlighted his controversial online persona and rising political prominence ahead of Uganda’s 2026 general elections.
Supporters argue that the 2015 Harvard vote underscores how Muhoozi has long been regarded in academic and policy circles as an influential voice on Africa’s security and development. Critics, however, continue to scrutinize his outspoken social media presence.
As Uganda approaches a critical election season, the Harvard recognition adds a new dimension to the competing narratives surrounding a figure increasingly positioned at the center of the country’s political future.