Museveni has never said he sees his son as his political heir. But the son, a senior army officer named Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has been rapidly promoted in recent years, leading many here to believe he is being prepared for high office. Kainerugaba is now a brigadier with full command of the country's special forces, an elite group within the military that protects the president and guards national assets such as oil fields.
Sejusa's succession allegations riveted this East African country where the president has rarely been publicly challenged and sparked a debate about who might replace Museveni, who has been in power since 1986. Uganda has not witnessed a single peaceful transfer of power since independence from Britain in 1962. Some analysts say Sejusa belongs the generation of senior army officers who are disgruntled over the first son's growing influence in the military as Museveni's political power fades, the reason some government officials have accused the general of harboring presidential ambitions.
In recent interviews with The Associated Press, Sejusa has accused Museveni of wanting to keep power within the first family at all costs. He described Uganda's military as a "prison," apparently because serving army officers are barred from participating in electoral politics under the country's military law.
An attorney for Sejusa, Joseph Luzige, said his client would not return to Uganda until he knew precisely what charges he faced. He said the state had not yet made available the details of the state's case against Sejusa.
"They are tightlipped and my client is bitter about it," he said. "Because then he would be able to plan his next course of action."
Some Ugandan military officials have publicly accused Sejusa of spreading propaganda that encourages rifts within the army.
