By Mulengera Reporters
Businessman Barnabas Taremwa Bwaniaga, a senior Ugandan citizen who is also the brother Gen Salim Saleh’s wife Joviah, has called on businessman Odrek Rwabwogo act truthfully and prudently by explaining himself on the clear claims that people in the PLU universe have been making against him.
In a long missive he wrote and published online over the weekend, Taremwa recognizes Odrek Rwabwogo’s hard work, eloquence and contribution to Uganda through his self-belief seminars and countrywide engagements with young people, but calls on him not to feel offended but to simply explain himself.
Taremwa says the claims which Gen MK’s Executive Assistant David Kabanda, who he describes as a good friend, has been making against Rwabwogo (including questioning how the original objective for which the government land at Nshaara ranch was appropriated to his organization was diverted from) are too serious to merely be swept under the carpet. He calls on Rwabwogo to simply explain what came of the original project and how the land ended up under his control.
Taremwa says it could be possible that Kabanda & Co aren’t being truthful, which is why Rwabwogo must wear a bold face, look into the camera and explain what exactly happened-since he is a public figure. This doesn’t amount to asking too much. Taremwa also addresses the $14m (or Shs52bn) Mr. Rwabwogo allegedly is supposed to receive from the Finance Ministry to atone him for business losses Hon Kabanda and other critics from the MK universe assert he actually never incurred. Once again Taremwa says that Mr. Rwabwogo shouldn’t get annoyed or merely keep quiet. Instead, he must leverage his God-given eloquence and oratory skills and face the people of Uganda, via any media platform of his choice, and set the record straight.
The Kabandas have also been very outspoken scrutinizing Odrek Rwabwogo regarding the hundreds of billions of shillings which over the years have been sunk into his organization called PACEID, which ordinarily is dedicated to enlarging the access of Uganda’s exports to markets abroad through amplifying things like value addition, certification, collaborations and linkages across the globe.
The Kabandas, whose views have since been corroborated by Gen MK through a series of posts on X, have also demanded that Rwabwogo explains the legal standi of PACEID, how much money has been expended on its activities, their reporting line and how staff continue to be recruited to work there.
Implying that the PLU activists have a civic duty and right to ask all these questions, since it’s all taxpayers money, Taremwa calls on the PACEID boss to seize this moment and simply explain as opposed to getting annoyed and crying foul. He says whoever gets facilitated with taxpayers’ money must always be open-minded and expect to face and answer such tough questions. Taremwa says there is nothing wrong the Kabandas have done and implores Rwabwogo, who he celebrates for being a very persuasive public speaker, to merely explain himself and life goes on.
It’s significant that such a consequential senior citizen and first family member is speaking out, unequivocally pronouncing himself in such a way. Barnabas Taremwa’s public utterances will only deepen Mr. Odrek Rwabwogo’s isolation. Gen MK is seemingly beginning to win the war even in the media space-and by extension the court of public opinion.
Going by conventional and online media debates throughout the weekend, its apparent that majority Ugandans have chosen to side with Gen MK, even though they are uncomfortable with his iron-fist approach and general indifference towards human rights observation, as opposed to Odrek Rwabwogo who the Kabandas have succeeded in portraying as materialistic and self-entitled. Many are angry upon learning of the billions the PACEID boss, who merely married in money and power, continues to have at his disposal.
Odrek Rwabwogo, who has the record of being the only Ugandan man who sleeps with a female bishop so far, was also harangued and demonized by a group of NRM media activists on most of the weekend radio and TV talk show debates.
Led by former Makindye East MP John Ssimbwa, NRM media activists (basically low rank cadres who for decades have supported Gen Museveni but hold no formal position in government) dwelled on depicting Rwabwogo as a trouble causer who can’t afford pointing out negatives of the Movement all the time while simultaneously claiming to still be its cadre.
They likened his agenda of demanding for reforms inside the Movement exactly to the renegade politics which Dr. Kizza Besigye and Amama Mbabazi engaged into in the early 2000s and mid-2010s respectively-only to end up becoming overtly hostile to Gen YK Museveni, the ruling party founding national Chairman who majority supporters consider to be morally infallible and politically invincible. Some expressed fear that the reform talk Rwabwogo has been synonymous with might end up weakening (as opposed to strengthening) the Movement.
On his part, Hon John Ssimbwa on Saturday appeared on Kabaka’s BBS TV based at Bulange Mengo where he had no kind words for the Bishop’s hubby. Thanking God who preserved Gen MK to provide unequivocal leadership for moments like this, Hon Ssimbwa called on fellow cadres to waste no time but to unambiguously side with the President’s son.
He said this isn’t because Janet and Yoweri Museveni are his parents but because the graft-hating Gen MK is right and has the moral high ground in the ongoing feuding with Odrek Rwabwogo. He said the Bishop’s husband shouldn’t respond by telling Ugandans how he is a son of peasant parents who were devout Balokoles because that has nothing to do with clear accountability questions people in the Gen MK universe are asking.
Ssimbwa thanked Gen MK for being fearless and clear as opposed to speaking or acting through proxies. He said it’s an act of leadership for Gen MK to be unequivocal while denouncing those who engage in inappropriate conduct when entrusted with public funds. He called on the public to step forward and fearlessly make solidarity statements urging MK and his top lieutenants like David Kabanda to keep asking the hard questions-because these are matters many other leaders have only been whispering about.
Hon Ssimbwa called on Odrek Rwabwogo to directly address the serious questions raised by Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, rather than deflecting into emotional arguments about religion or his humble upbringing. Ssimbwa asserted that there is nothing unique about Rwabwogo’s deprived childhood and background because that is the story of almost every Ugandan.
Speaking during Mzee Ssozi Kaddu Mukasa’s popular talk show Zimba Ensi Yo on BBS, Ssimbwa argued that the allegations against Rwabwogo—who chairs the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID)—require substantive answers, not appeals to faith or background.
“Rwabwogo should answer the questions raised by Gen Muhoozi,” Ssimbwa demanded, criticizing attempts to “hide behind emotional issues like religion and poor parentage.” The former legislator stressed that public accountability cannot be circumvented using personal narratives and reference to one’s deprived childhood.
He highlighted key issues involving State House operations, parliamentary inquiries, business dealings linked to South Sudan, and the necessity to respect court processes. He urged that allegations surrounding PACEID’s legal status, alleged corruption and disputed financial allocations should be addressed with honesty and not diversionary tactics.
His remarks were preceded by remarkable escalation in the public feuding between Gen Kainerugaba and his brother-in-law, Odrek Rwabwogo. Gen Kainerugaba recently declared PACEID an illegal entity, threatened to arrest its officials, confirmed the detention of Rwabwogo’s aide Matthew Bagonza and moved to block related government payments.
Rwabwogo has consistently denied the corruption allegations, dismissing them as malicious distractions. He maintains that PACEID was legally established by President Yoweri Museveni—the only authority empowered to disband it—while frequently citing his spiritual devotion and deprived childhood he endured as a peasant’s son to defend his integrity.
It’s clear that majority long-serving Musevenists and foot soldier-level ruling NRM cadres are increasingly realizing they can no longer afford ambivalence and being neutral as the Gen MK vs. Odrek Rwabwogo public spatting escalates. They have chosen to side with Gen MK who many of them perceive to be the man with the cards at this moment in time.
To many of them, it’s increasingly becoming clear that Gen MK isn’t just CDF anymore but a co-President to Gen Museveni who in January was reelected by 7m Ugandan voters, going by the official election results as was declared by the EC and which remain formally unchallenged up to this day. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
