President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has responded to journalist Andrew Mwenda’s concerns over Stephen Nuwagaba, saying the focus should not be on the young man but on fighting corruption, torture and criminal behaviour within some elements of the security forces and government institutions.
In a statement released by State House on Monday, August 3, 2026, President Museveni said Nuwagaba came to him as a victim of torture and alleged abuse by some security personnel who were trying to silence him. He said the young man had suffered serious injuries and trauma, and that he had supported his medical treatment both within Uganda and abroad.
Museveni said the alleged torture and maiming of Nuwagaba by security officers was unacceptable and against the principles of the liberation struggle. He questioned why individuals serving in security agencies would engage in acts that the country fought against for many years.
“The terrible thing is that these alleged torturers and maimers were belonging to our security forces. Is this what we and the people of Uganda fought for?” Museveni said.
The President also rejected claims that his support for Nuwagaba was a sign of weakness or that the young man was a threat to national security. He argued that if Nuwagaba had personal issues, including allegations of dishonesty, those matters could be handled separately, but they should not distract from investigating crimes committed against him.
Museveni accused Mwenda of shifting attention away from what he described as the real challenges facing Uganda. According to the President, the major problem is not Nuwagaba’s interaction with State House and security agencies, but corrupt individuals who hide information from leaders and protect criminals within government systems.
“The reality on the ground is that the main problem of Uganda is not Nuwagaba seizing State House and the Security Forces but the criminals, including some in the Security Forces and other organs,” Museveni said.
The President further questioned why Mwenda’s investigative efforts had not focused on other national concerns, including alleged corruption in the Parish Development Model (PDM), road projects and other government programmes.
Museveni said some security personnel had become corrupt or compromised, and warned that such individuals were damaging the image of institutions that are meant to protect Ugandans.
He emphasized that torture, extra-judicial killings and other forms of abuse are not acceptable methods of governance or security operations. According to him, such actions are not only immoral but also harmful to national unity and stability.
The President explained that during the struggles that led to the formation of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), discipline was emphasized, but he insisted that torture and unnecessary violence were not part of the principles he believes in.
He said security agencies must fight crime while also ensuring that they do not commit crimes themselves.
Museveni also defended the role of informal sources of information, saying that sometimes individuals outside official structures provide important information that helps leaders identify corruption and wrongdoing.
He cited previous cases where informal actors allegedly helped expose corruption and security concerns, arguing that official systems must improve their ability to gather and act on accurate information.
The President concluded by saying Uganda’s focus should remain on fighting corruption, protecting citizens and ensuring that those involved in criminal activities are held accountable, regardless of their positions.
His remarks come amid a public debate involving Andrew Mwenda, Stephen Nuwagaba and questions surrounding allegations of torture, accountability and the role of security agencies in Uganda.
