Patriotic League Uganda (PLU) Vice Chairperson for Buganda region, Frank Gashumba, has accused an unnamed cabinet minister of stealing rice and meat during a visit by PLU Chairperson Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba to Masaka district in March 2024.
“How can a so-called ‘Hon Minister’ (a person of such titles) turn himself into a mere petty thief of rice and meat meant for feeding peasants at a public gathering?” Gashumba remarked.
Gashumba made these statements in response to a summons from the PLU Disciplinary Committee chairperson, Hon. Michael Mawanda. The summons instructed him to attend a disciplinary hearing on the afternoon of Wednesday, May 29th, 2024. Gashumba was summoned for a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), which the PLU considered an act of misconduct and an attack on their chairman, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
In his post, Gashumba directly addressed the heads of security agencies, including the UPDF and Uganda Police, criticizing their failure to protect Ugandans from increasing urban crime.
“If you cannot protect Ugandans and their properties, simply resign,” Gashumba stated.
Recently, Kampala suburbs have seen an alarming frequency of assaults and robberies claiming the lives of innocent civilians. Gashumba found this unacceptable, especially since the nation boasts a well-equipped security force.
His criticism of security forces, including the UPDF commanded by Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, caused discomfort among PLU members. The organization responded through the head of the Disciplinary Committee, Hon. Michael Mawanda, summoning Gashumba for a disciplinary hearing at 1500 hours on Wednesday, May 29th, 2024. The letter accused Gashumba of attacking PLU’s leadership and damaging the organization’s reputation.
However, Frank Gashumba didn’t take these summonses lightly and immediately responded fiercely.
The defiant Gashumba defended himself, saying his post was addressed to the leadership of all security organizations and not specifically the PLU. He argued that the summons would be valid if they came from the Chief of Defence Forces and the Inspector General of Police.
In a scathing letter, he called out the double standards of two executive committee members, MPs Michael Mawanda and Daudi Kabanda, accusing them of personal vendettas and bias. He further expressed his lack of confidence in the Disciplinary Committee, accusing them of already turning themselves into the complainants, prosecutors, judge, and executioner, further exposing the rift within the organization.
It remains unclear if the Sisimuka Uganda CEO will honor the disciplinary summons.
The PLU is a civic organization led by first son Gen. Muhoozi, who is also the Chief of Defence Forces. The organization had been vocal on issues of national service, corruption, and frugal expenditure of public resources before President Yoweri Museveni appointed Gen. Muhoozi CDF in March.
