Museveni Accuses Journalist Andrew Mwenda of Spying On Him, Clarifies Nuwagaba’s Presence at State House

What the report says

KAMPALA, Uganda — In a statement released Monday and reported by Watchdog Uganda, President Yoweri Museveni accused journalist Andrew Mwenda and his investigative team of “spying” on him, sharply escalating his criticism of the veteran media figure. The President’s remarks came as he also defended Stephen Nuwagaba, rejecting suggestions that the young man had posed a security threat at State House.

Museveni said media accounts describing a “siege” or unusual access at State House were misleading. He portrayed Nuwagaba as a person who had sought protection after, according to the President, suffering torture, maiming and threats from rogue security personnel. Museveni said the man had been treated in Uganda and abroad, and added that some of the alleged perpetrators were already before court. He also said Nuwagaba’s mother had been attacked and that his father continued to receive threats.

The statement went further in condemning torture, which Museveni called immoral and contrary to the principles of the liberation struggle he says he has long represented. He argued that Uganda’s deeper problems are corruption, impunity and abusive officials who block accurate information from reaching leadership, rather than the conduct of a traumatized young man.

Museveni also used the statement to push back against reporting linked to The Independent, an outlet associated with Mwenda, and said he had ordered a discreet investigation into the matter. He added that Nuwagaba could still face consequences if separate misconduct were proven. The dispute highlights continuing tensions between Uganda’s presidency and sections of the press over security, accountability and access to State House.