Politics 22 July 2026 Nile Post
Kakwenza Confronts Museveni Advisor Rwabwogo on Free Speech
Exiled author Kakwenza Rukirabashaija has publicly challenged presidential advisor Odrek Rwabwogo's recent statements on freedom of expression. Kakwenza argues Rwabwogo's comments echo long-standing concerns from critics, yet Rwabwogo enjoys direct access to leadership while others face repression. Source: https://nilepost.co.ug/news/358216/kakwenza-challenges-museveni-advisor-rwabwogo-over-freedom-of-expression-remarks
Exiled Ugandan author and lawyer Kakwenza Rukirabashaija has sharply criticized Presidential Advisor Odrek Rwabwogo for his recent remarks advocating for greater freedom of expression in Uganda.
Rwabwogo, who chairs the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID), recently stated that a robust economy requires an environment free from fear, where citizens can speak openly. He emphasized that silence and suppressed opinions hinder national progress and unity.
However, Kakwenza countered that Rwabwogo is merely articulating concerns that government critics have voiced for years. He accused the presidential advisor of selectively highlighting these issues while seemingly insulated from the repercussions faced by those who have directly challenged the administration.
In a public letter, Kakwenza recalled meeting Rwabwogo after his own release from prison in early 2022. He described how Rwabwogo examined injuries he alleged to have sustained during his detention and mentioned that Rwabwogo claimed to have been sent by President Museveni, who is also Rwabwogo’s father-in-law.
Kakwenza also referenced reports of Rwabwogo visiting journalist Timothy Kalyegira while he was detained, questioning if the advisor had appointed himself an observer of political prisoners. He pointed out that figures like Dr. Kizza Besigye and other critics had raised governance issues long before Rwabwogo’s public commentary.
Kakwenza argued that Rwabwogo’s stance would carry more weight if directed towards the country’s leadership, given his direct access as an advisor and relative of the President. He suggested Rwabwogo should “take your complaints to family dinner,” implying that critics have exhausted all formal channels, often facing arrest and exile.
Kakwenza, who has lived in exile since his detention in 2021, continues to voice his criticisms of the government through his writings and online platforms.
This account is based on reporting from Nile Post.