By Aggrey Baba
“Obote had his flaws, but he never stole our land.” NUP’s Paulson Luttamaguzi, the outgoing Nakaseke South MP has said former President Milton Obote was not a worse leader than President Yoweri Museveni, and that the people of Nakaseke and greater Luwero owe him an apology.
Speaking during a YouTube interview with media personality Dr. Kwefu, Luttamaguzi said many people in Luwero were misled into believing that Obote was an extremely bad man. He said Obote was insulted, given nicknames like “Kawenkene,” and portrayed as the enemy of Buganda and the region.
But today, he said, “people are quietly admitting they were misled.”
Luttamaguzi, a known Museveni critic, said several elders from Nakaseke have approached him asking to be linked to Jimmy Akena, president of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) and son of Obote, adding that these elders want to apologize for misunderstanding Obote and for helping and hiding NRA rebels during the 1981-1986 Bush War.
The Bush War was mainly fought in the Luweero Triangle, bringing the NRA to power in 1986, a conflict which caused heavy suffering to the people of Luwero. Estimates show that between 300,000 and over 500,000 civilians died, while many were displaced and properties destroyed.
Luttamaguzi said because the war was based in Luwero, residents were deeply involved in supporting the Museveni rebels, but now claims many feel they were mobilized using exaggerated stories about Obote’s leadership.
He said that although Obote had weaknesses, he did not allow widespread land grabbing by government officials, and those connected to powerful individuals, which he claims is happening in Buganda and the whole country today.
According to him, during Obote’s time, land ownership and acquisition followed known systems and it could only be acquired through proper channels, unlike today.
He also noted that the biggest government hospital serving greater Luwero was constructed during Obote’s regime, arguing that after 40 years of Museveni rule, the region has little comparable infrastructure to show.
Obote’s relationship with Mengo (Buganda) was historically troubled, as in 1962, his political party (UPC) formed an alliance with Kabaka Yekka (YK), making him Prime Minister while Kabaka Edward Mutesa II became ceremonial President.
However, in 1966, disagreements led to a crisis and Obote ordered the army to attack the Kabaka’s palace at Lubiri, forcing Mutesa into exile, while in 1967, traditional kingdoms, including Buganda, were abolished.
These actions created long-term anger among many Baganda and contributed to political instability that later led to the Luwero Bush War.
In the January 2026 parliamentary elections, Charles Nsereko Basajjassubi of the NRM was declared winner in Nakaseke South with 30,279 votes and Luttamaguzi got 18,123 votes.
However, the outspoken MP rejected the results, claiming he was robbed not just of votes but of victory itself. He alleges that he had actually defeated his opponent by more than 10,000 votes but that the Electoral Commission (EC) was directed not to declare him.
Luttamaguzi said his current silence after the January elections had been misinterpreted by what he called regime agents spreading propaganda. He singled out a veteran media personality (Now blogger) Kweezi Robinson, who he accused of recently airing a podcast saying Lutamaguzi had in a secret meeting with Gen. Salim Sale agreed on how to harmonize the situation [since he claims his victory was robbed], and that Sale and the NRM had promised to compensate him for all the money he spent in the campaigns.
He dismissed the claims as a state sponsored propaganda, and revealed that he had already engaged his lawyers led by Kawempe North MP and senior lawyer, Erias Nalukoola and that the process to sue the veteran journalist is underway. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
