Uganda, May 9 -- When President Yoweri Museveni on March 21 named his son, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the top commander of the army, a number of eyebrows were raised. However, for several reasons, I think the President's action was timely, progressive and strategically good for the economy.

With the next presidential election barely two years away, it was not clear whether the President was going to stand for re-election in 2026 or if Gen Muhoozi's holding of 'political' rallies countrywide was an indication that he was going to be anointed as his father's successor come 2026.

Consequently, there was confusion not among the population but also among the top members of the army and the ruling party, the National Resistance Movement, in reg...