A public war of words involving businessman Odrek Rwabwogo, President Yoweri Museveni’s son-in-law, and Daudi Kabanda, a Member of Parliament widely regarded by political observers as a close ally of Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has intensified speculation about possible differences within Uganda’s First Family.
The latest exchange has unfolded on social media and at public events, where accusations and counter-accusations have drawn widespread public attention and reignited debate about governance, corruption, land ownership and the future direction of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
Although neither President Museveni nor Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba has publicly commented on the latest dispute, the increasingly personal nature of the exchanges has generated significant political interest, with supporters on both sides taking to social media to defend their preferred figures.
Kabanda escalates criticism
The latest chapter began after Daudi Kabanda dismissed Rwabwogo’s recent remarks urging Ugandans to speak openly against abuse of power and defend the rule of law.
Kabanda argued that no one had prevented Rwabwogo from engaging with prisoners or speaking publicly, before raising fresh allegations regarding land ownership.
“He has said nothing. Nobody has stopped him from visiting prisoners in Luzira and nobody is intimidating his supporters. Let him tell us about the seven square miles of land at Nshaara Ranch he acquired fraudulently,” Kabanda said.
Kabanda has not publicly provide documentary evidence to support the allegation, and there has been no known court ruling establishing that Rwabwogo fraudulently acquired the land.
Rwabwogo responds at length
Rwabwogo answered with an extensive public statement in which he rejected the allegations and described them as deliberate attempts to destroy his reputation.
“I wish to respond to some of the claims I have been hearing about land grabbing,” he said.
“I am deeply hurt because some of you do not know much about me. When you hear these ridiculous claims you may be tempted to believe them.”
He traced his upbringing to what he described as a deeply Christian family, insisting honesty had been central to his values. “In the Rwabwogo family I grew up in, my mother Erina and my father Thomas were pure Christians. We never lie… We can never take what is not ours.”
Church land dispute
To illustrate his point, Rwabwogo narrated a previous land dispute involving church property in Kakyeera. He said he had purchased land from what he believed was a legitimate seller before later being informed by church leaders that part of the land belonged to the church.
Rather than fight the claim, Rwabwogo said he commissioned government surveyors, confirmed overlapping boundaries and voluntarily surrendered 63 acres to the church.
“I got 63 acres and handed them to the church… I spent so much money seeking the truth without forcing the seller to compensate me.” He argued that such conduct contradicted allegations that he grabs land.
“Tell me which person would surrender 63 acres of land acquired through blood and sweat.”
Defending development projects
Rwabwogo also defended investments associated with his companies, saying critics ignored the work undertaken to promote industrialisation and agriculture.
He highlighted investments under Rise and the Nshaara Industrial Park, saying efforts had focused on developing coffee production, meat processing and milk value addition.
He said attempts to establish an export-oriented meat industry had encountered challenges, including shortages of cattle, certification difficulties and disruptions caused by Covid-19.
Rwabwogo further highlighted the establishment of a milk factory in Rushere. “We have used up to Shs11 billion to buy milk from the people in nine years.” He also listed community projects including water supply, school support, church renovation and rural electrification initiatives.
“If these people care so much about you, why have they not set up a factory like that for you?” he asked.
Criticism of NRM politics
Beyond defending himself, Rwabwogo used the opportunity to reflect on what he considers a growing ideological drift within the ruling NRM. He lamented what he described as increasing commercialization of politics.
“Forty years later the party’s memories are starting to fade.” “Instead of educating people, we buy them.” He warned that ideology was being replaced by money and personal attacks.
Rwabwogo also said he would continue visiting prisoners regardless of political affiliation.”I will not stop visiting people who are incarcerated in prison.”
“If you arrest a person, I will look for their family because in our nation I want my children and their children not to be scared of each other.” He maintained that reconciliation and dialogue remain important national values.
Public reactions divided
As expected, the exchange generated polarized reactions across social media.
Some users praised Rwabwogo for directly confronting the allegations. Colleb Nuwamanya wrote: “Thanks for spreading the gospel of truth.” Asiimwe Edward Councillor added: “I like your sense of humor, knowledge and discipline.”
Alex Mushabe argued that the statement appeared intended for a wider audience.
“This message is not directed to Kabanda, not all but his master.” Others questioned whether Rwabwogo had adequately addressed the allegations.
Steven K. Junior observed: “He appears to focus on historical context and outlining his manifesto rather than directly addressing the specific allegations.”
Another user, identified as African, questioned whether appeals to personal integrity alone were sufficient. “He says he can’t lie because he is saved. We should just believe him?”
Some commenters instead challenged Kabanda. Twesigye John asked: “If you have evidence that he acquired that land fraudulently why don’t you take him to court?”Lord Robelto Rwamukaaga similarly questioned why formal legal processes had not been pursued if credible evidence existed.
Others appeared amused by the public disagreement, while some suggested the exchange reflected broader political competition ahead of Uganda’s future leadership transition.
Political significance
The public disagreement is notable because both Rwabwogo and Gen Muhoozi occupy influential positions within Uganda’s political establishment.
Rwabwogo has increasingly positioned himself as an advocate for industrialisation, entrepreneurship and ideological renewal within the NRM. He has also occasionally delivered speeches emphasizing accountability, production and institution-building. Gen Muhoozi, meanwhile, continues to command significant political influence through both his military position and his extensive public engagement with supporters.
While neither man has openly declared personal hostility toward the other, recurring exchanges involving their respective allies have fueled speculation about differing political approaches within the broader First Family.
Political analysts caution, however, that such speculation should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of a formal split.
Questions remain unanswered
The allegations surrounding Nshaara Ranch remain unresolved in the public domain. Kabanda maintains that Rwabwogo should explain how the land was acquired.
Rwabwogo categorically rejects wrongdoing and insists his record demonstrates respect for lawful property ownership. Neither side has publicly presented comprehensive documentary evidence capable of conclusively resolving the dispute.
Consequently, the debate remains one largely fought through political messaging rather than legal findings.
Bigger picture
The exchange comes at a time when Uganda’s political conversation increasingly revolves around succession, governance and accountability. Rwabwogo’s speeches have recently emphasized reconciliation, dialogue and respect for institutions.
Kabanda, on the other hand, has frequently defended Gen Muhoozi and criticized those he believes undermine the CDF or the current political leadership.
Whether the latest confrontation represents a temporary disagreement, an ideological contest within the NRM, or merely another episode in Uganda’s increasingly personalized political discourse remains uncertain.
For now, what is clear is that a dispute once confined to political insiders has become a national conversation, with Ugandans debating not only the personalities involved but also broader questions about leadership, accountability and the future of governance.
Until independent evidence or official investigations substantiate or refute the competing claims, many of the accusations exchanged in the public arena remain allegations rather than established facts.
Rwabwogo Hits at Muhoozi camp (verbatim)
“I wish to respond to some of the claims I have been hearing about land grabbing. I am deeply hurt because some of you do not know much about me; when you hear these ridiculous claims you may be tempted to believe them.
I wish to inform you that in the Rwabwogo family I grew up in, my mother Erina and my father Thomas were pure Christians. We never lie. God was gracious to us. He gave us life and educated us. We can never take what is not ours.
Let me start by giving you an example.
While I was still a youth, I bought land in Kakyeera, from a reputable person. 15 years later, someone called me and introduced himself as a lawyer of a church. He claimed that I had fenced off land belonging to the church
I was perturbed by this. I looked for the bishop (Alfred Muhoozi of North Ankole). The bishop informed me that the church had opened up the boundaries for the church land and found that some of the land was with you.
I went to the Commissioner of Lands, got surveyors and surveyed the entire land and found that there was some encroachment by up to 10 individuals including the church. Then I called the local leaders and church stakeholders and we sat down.
I got 63 acres and handed them to the church even in the presence of the person who sold me that land. I spent so much money seeking the truth without forcing the seller to compensate me. I even had a right over that land because the law says if you occupy land for 12 years you can claim it.
I tell you this not to brag but to show how Satan uses people to tell lies about others to tarnish their names. Tell me which person would surrender 63 acres of land that they acquired through blood and sweat. Some people kill each other for one acre
Another example is Maya in Mpigi where we bought 10 acres to build our home. 3 years later, my wife got a revelation telling her not to construct in that land before building the Lord’s house.
She asked me to hand over the land to God. Now God has been merciful and on August 28 my wife will ordained as a bishop on that same land
I fear tomorrow, I fear lying, and following trends which may hurt my family. Someone who behaves like that would never take away another person’s land.
Now I hear that at Akageeti where there is Nshaara Industrial Park which has a board with its chairperson Mr Stephen Kaboyo.
We have a company called Rise through which we are trying to set up a coffee farm. We have already set up a meat factory. I personally looked for Chinese investors. Unfortunately we looked for 150 cows to slaughter every day and couldn’t get them. Secondly, we failed to get certification from China. We were disrupted by Covid-19.
That is why we are now pushing for establishment of the Food and Regulatory Authority that can issue certification.
My calculation is that if I can get 3,000 cattle farmers, and also reduce the time the cows take to grow up and reproduce from 18 months to 12 months, we may get more cows going to the abattoir. Through this we can get 40,000 cows which we need as a buffer stock. We are pushing hard as PACEID to ensure that this industrial park works.
This is why you hear these idiots telling lies about me. Rwabwogo cannot touch what is not his.
I also wonder what these talkers are doing in their own areas. I studied this industry deeply before looking for equity investors and we set up a milk factory at Rushere. We did not ensure that children who leave school in Kampala can go back and learn along with the local farmers.
Now who loves people more? Is it a person that built them a factory or is it another who goes to the radio to hurl insults?
Through this factory, we have used up to Shs11 billion to buy milk from the people in nine years. We have now launched efforts to build a power substation in Kiruhura.
We got Shs800 million and handed it to an individual to get us milk. He never delivered and later we heard that he had two wives who were fighting over this money. We shut him down. That is why you hear us going on radios trying to get milk directly from the people. We are not owed by a single farmer of any amount.
If these people care so much about you, why have they not set up a factory like that for you?
I have brought tap water to our community. My wife has renovated a church in Nkukuru which was built in 1965. We built Naama Primary School and purchased computers for them. You, who insult Rwabwogo, what have you done?
The Bible tells us that jealousy is as cruel as the grave. But nonetheless we remain quiet and focus on our work. I beseech you to reject these lies.
What I think is that these people insult me so that I can abandon the NRM principles. Forty years later the party’s memories are starting to fade. Educating and sensitising the masses has died down. That is why we have dangerously injected money into our elections. Instead of educating people, we buy them.
I know these people. That person who is insulting me came with three others in 2015 and I taught them and deployed them in Busoga, Bugisu and Budama.
Four days later he switched off his phone and later we found him in a hotel room with a gun, alcohol and a woman.
I replaced him and he left.
Later I heard that he was an MP and so on.
Lack of education is dangerous. These are the people who want to destroy our party. They want to stop us from what President Yoweri Museveni has taught us about ideology.
But I want to inform all Ugandans that we all have a stake in President Museveni. No single person has a right to claim him by themselves.
I want to assure you that I have a backbone. I will not be intimidated or allow my people to be intimidated. I have knowledge, I am humble and I have God. Stop this stupidity.
I will not stop visiting people who are incarcerated in prison. If you arrest a person, I will look for their family because in our nation I want my children and their children not to be scared of each other.
Now they ask why I go to visit people in prison. Ignorance is a sickness indeed. How do you want to run Uganda if you don’t want to listen to one another and reject reconciliation or to follow the law? We will not accept this.
Finally, I will encourage my people to be strong and know that all you hear are lies from the pits of hell. They are lies that fear the truth.”
Author Profile
- Charles Gazza Kodili is a seasoned journalist with over 20 years of experience in the media industry. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication. He’s currently the Chief Editor at the Investigator.
Charles can also be reached via; Tel: +256 774 108978
Email: [email protected]
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