Full Commando! Gen Muhoozi’s Son Graduates From Mighty Sandhurst Military Academy

By Our Reporter

Private Ruhamya Kainerugaba, the son of Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has graduated from the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom after successfully completing the academy’s officer commissioning course.

Ruhamya graduated alongside fellow Ugandan Officer Cadet Bakira Ruyondo during a ceremony held on Wednesday, August 5, marking the completion of one of the world’s most respected military leadership training programmes.

The commissioning course prepares cadets for leadership roles in the military, with intensive training in command, decision-making, physical endurance, military tactics and leadership under demanding operational conditions.

Ruhamya’s graduation comes just months after Gen. Muhoozi publicly announced that his son had enrolled at Sandhurst. Throughout the training period, the UPDF chief shared photographs of Ruhamya participating in field exercises and praised his progress, describing him as a dedicated young soldier.

The achievement also marks a significant family milestone. Gen. Muhoozi himself graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 2000 after joining the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) as an Officer Cadet in 1999 before being commissioned as a Second Lieutenant.

The father-and-son accomplishment highlights two generations of the Kainerugaba family who have completed officer training at the renowned British military institution.

Located in Surrey, England, the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst is the British Army’s premier officer training academy and has, for more than two centuries, produced military leaders from the United Kingdom and allied nations across the world.

The academy is internationally recognised for developing officers through rigorous military instruction that emphasizes leadership, discipline, strategic thinking and the ability to make sound decisions under pressure. In addition to British cadets, Sandhurst regularly trains military personnel from partner countries, including Uganda.

Ruhamya was not the only Ugandan to earn the prestigious qualification. Officer Cadet Bakira Ruyondo also successfully completed the commissioning course, underscoring the UPDF’s continued investment in developing professional military leadership through international training institutions.

Minister for Local Government Balaam Barugahara congratulated the two graduates, describing their achievement as a proud moment for Uganda and wishing them success as they begin the next phase of their military careers.

With the successful completion of the commissioning course, Ruhamya Kainerugaba and Bakira Ruyondo join a growing number of UPDF officers who have received world-class military training at Sandhurst, reinforcing Uganda’s commitment to building a professional and highly skilled defence force.