KAMPALA, Uganda — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has defended his decision to support Stephen Nuwagaba, saying the young man came under his protection as an alleged victim of torture by rogue security personnel, while accusing journalist Andrew Mwenda of diverting public attention from corruption and abuse within state institutions.
In a lengthy response published on Monday, Museveni rejected Mwenda’s criticism over Nuwagaba, insisting that the real issue is not the young man’s conduct but the alleged criminal actions of some security officers accused of torturing and maiming him.
The President said Nuwagaba, whom he described as being in his mid-twenties, sought refuge after allegedly being tortured and threatened with death by elements within the security services.
According to Museveni, the young man spent several months receiving treatment under his care, including medical attention in Uganda and abroad.
“It is because of the torture and maiming that I came to know Nuwagaba. I am glad I rescued him, rescued his family and had him partially treated,” Museveni wrote.
He added that some of the officers allegedly responsible are already facing court proceedings, stressing that the allegations remain under investigation.
Torture ‘betrays the revolution’:
Museveni used the statement to strongly condemn torture, describing it as immoral, counter-revolutionary and inconsistent with the ideals for which the National Resistance Movement (NRM) fought.
He recalled atrocities committed during the regimes of former President Idi Amin and the Luwero war, arguing that Uganda’s liberation struggle was intended to end such abuses.
“Is this what we and the people of Uganda fought for?” the President asked, saying no Ugandan should again be subjected to torture, maiming or extra-judicial killings.
He maintained that throughout his decades of armed struggle, he had never ordered the torture of political opponents, arguing that discipline could be enforced through lawful and non-violent means.
Mwenda accused of changing the national conversation:
Museveni accused Mwenda of repeatedly shifting public debate away from issues he considers more important.
He claimed the journalist had previously criticised Uganda’s pharmaceutical innovators before turning his attention to the Nuwagaba matter.
The President questioned why, if Nuwagaba was merely a liar as alleged by critics, there had been what he described as desperate efforts to silence him.
He suggested the controversy could be an attempt to conceal crimes allegedly committed by corrupt individuals within the security services.
Corruption remains Uganda’s biggest challenge:
Museveni argued that Uganda’s greatest challenge is corruption and compromised officials, not Nuwagaba.
He cited complaints about alleged misuse of the Parish Development Model (PDM), corruption in road projects, the alleged sale of government jobs in local governments, and criminal networks operating within public institutions.
He also alleged that some security personnel have blocked information from reaching senior leaders, enabling criminality to flourish.
“The main problem of Uganda is not Nuwagaba… but criminals, including some in the security forces and other organs, who have been blocking the flow of information about criminals,” he wrote.
Defence of informal intelligence:
The President also defended the continued use of informal intelligence networks, arguing they have complemented formal intelligence structures since the National Resistance Army bush war.
Drawing on historical examples from military operations during the liberation struggle, Museveni said human intelligence and signal intelligence were critical to the NRA’s success.
He argued that informal whistleblowers continue to play an important role in exposing corruption and security threats when official structures fail.
Museveni cited several examples, including intelligence related to anti-government protests, alleged corruption within State House, and investigations involving opposition politician Kizza Besigye, to illustrate the value of unofficial information sources.
Promise of further communication:
The President concluded by thanking Ugandans for participating in the recently concluded LC1 elections and said he would later address that subject in greater detail.
He signed off the statement as “Ssaabalwanyi”, reiterating that the country’s priority should remain fighting corruption, impunity and abuse of office rather than focusing solely on the controversy surrounding Nuwagaba.
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