General Muhoozi Kainerugaba has been honoured with a continental leadership accolade in Ghana, further elevating his profile within Africa’s security and political circles.
The African Leadership Organisation presented him with the Special African Leadership Award for Defence and National Security Excellence during the 15th African Leadership Magazine Persons of the Year ceremony held in Accra from February 27 to 28.
The event, hosted at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel under the theme, “Leadership for a New Africa: Forging Our Peace, Owning our Narrative,” attracted more than 400 delegates, including heads of state, ministers and business leaders from across the continent.
Dr Ken Giami, the London-based Nigerian founder and executive chairman of the African Leadership Organisation, described General Muhoozi as a “rising and shining star of Africa,” citing what he termed two decades of military reforms and strategic contributions to Uganda’s national and regional security architecture.
The citation referenced Uganda’s role in Somalia under successive African Union-led missions from the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (Atmis) and, most recently, the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (Aussom).
In remarks delivered on his behalf by Col Chris Magezi, the Director of Defence Public Information in the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF), General Muhoozi said he was “deeply honoured” by the recognition.
“As pan-Africanists, we should continue to strengthen cooperation across different fields on the continent, including political, economic, social and security spheres,” Col Magezi said, adding that such collaboration would enable Africans “to defend the continent and its people more effectively.”
Also present at the ceremony were Col Ogume Christopher Laki and Barnabas Nawangwe, the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University.
Other honourees included John Dramani Mahama, who received the African of the Year award; Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah; Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane; and Esperança Maria Eduardo Francisco da Costa.
Now in its 15th edition, the African Leadership Magazine awards position themselves as a platform recognising political, business and civic leadership across the continent. Previous recipients have included sitting and former heads of state, as well as leaders of multilateral institutions.
General Muhoozi’s recognition comes as Uganda maintains an active security footprint in East and Central Africa, from counterterrorism operations to cross-border stabilisation missions a role that continues to shape Kampala’s standing as a key military actor on the continent.
