Shock as Gashumba, Balaam, & Mwenda are kicked out of Muhoozi’s PLU!

Uganda woke up today to a shocking revelation: outspoken figures Frank Gashumba, Balaam Barugahara, and Andrew Mwenda have been unceremoniously booted out of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU). This comes after it was discovered that PLU, often paraded as a political and civic organization, is nothing more than a private company—secretly registered with a select group of shadowy shareholders. And the list of shareholders is raising more than a few eyebrows.

According to information from the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), PLU is owned by none other than Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, alongside David Kabanda, Michael Nuwagira, Lilian Aber and Michael Mawanda. But the real scandal lies in the background of these so-called “leaders.”

A leaked document from URSB indicating the shareholders!

David Kabanda, the self-styled “Secretary General” of PLU, turns out to be a senior six dropout, notorious for running scams, extorting money from government offices in the name of the PLU. As for Michael Mawanda, he is fresh out of prison, having been implicated in a 162-billion-shilling cooperatives fraud scandal. His international criminal record includes a previous arrest in India, where he swindled an investor out of 50 billion shillings. “Is this the kind of leadership that should be steering a political movement?” questioned one Senior leader in the PLU who requested anonymity.

Mawanda, Muhoozi, Nuwagira and Kabanda

Supporters of PLU are feeling deeply betrayed by the news that the organization is in the hands of such questionable individuals. The ousting of Gashumba, who was instrumental in crafting the brand of Gen. Muhoozi’s campaign—including the now-iconic “standby generator” slogan—has left many scratching their heads.  Gashumba also was the architect of the symbol of lion which is in the logo of the PLU. How could someone so dedicated be discarded so easily? The same question looms over Mwenda, a longtime friend and trusted strategist of Gen. Muhoozi, and Balaam Barugahara, who had been a key player in the PLU’s public engagements.

Ugandans are now left questioning the credibility of PLU, asking why Gen. Muhoozi would entrust the party to individuals whose reputations are already tarnished by fraud and scandal. More critically, people are wondering how a movement that was marketed as “patriotic” could be nothing more than a corrupt, privately-owned entity designed to enrich a handful of crooked elites.

It also leaves many questions on the leadership of Gen Muhoozi if he can forget his comrades so fast. It is hard to mention the name Gen Muhoozi without talking of Balaam, Gashumba and Mwenda. These three promoted Gen Muhoozi at a time when people didn’t want to hear him. “Promoting Gen Muhoozi was as hard as convincing a Muslim to eat pork, but Gashumba, Mwenda and Balaam stood in amidst insults from opposition supporters and defended his image” said Okwi one of the PLU coordinators from Teso.

Observers have faulted Gen Muhoozi for not learning from his father who has never abandoned his historicals. People like Ruhakana Ruhunda, Amama Mbabazi, Jim Muhwezi, Gen Tinyefuza, Kahinda Otafiire, Kiyonga Chrispus etc have always benefited from the NRM. Museveni went ahead to employ the sons and daughters of the bush war veterans. “People like Minister of Kampala Hon Kyofatigabye, Minister of Transport Fred Byamukama, Police Spokesperson AIGP Rusoke, Uganda Airlines Executive Director Jennifer Bamuturaki are among the children of the NRM historicals who are serving in lucrative positions in government. Now one wonders if Gen Muhoozi can forget people like Andrew Mwenda, Balaam Barugahara and Frank Gashumba, who have done everything to promote him, will he be able to remember them or many other supporters when he captures power? All this casts doubt in his leadership credentials!

The silence from Gashumba, Mwenda, and Balaam has been deafening. The nation is left wondering: what next for these three after being so blatantly sidelined from the very organization they helped to build? And what does this betrayal say about the direction in which Gen. Muhoozi’s political ambitions are headed? Ugandans are demanding answers. The three could not be reached for a comment!