KAMPALA, Uganda — A handwritten note attributed to Gen. Caleb Akandwanaho, better known as Salim Saleh, has added a new dimension to Uganda’s increasingly contentious debate over the handling of opposition figures, urging Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba to ensure that Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Norbert Mao is fully briefed on military operations and the cases involving Dr. Kizza Besigye and Erias Lukwago.
The message, which has circulated publicly amid growing scrutiny of the government’s treatment of opposition leaders and lawyers, suggests that Mao should play a more visible role in addressing public concerns surrounding recent security operations.
In the note, Saleh wrote:
“Hon. Norbert Mao, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs (Chair of the Cabinet Standing Committee of Human Rights), has a duty to the public concerning the case of Dr. Kizza Besigye and any of his accomplices.”
He continued: “He also has a duty to explain actions by the state security agencies against certain individuals and organisations. He may not be privy to some of the military intelligence. He needs a briefing so that he can in turn respond to any public concerns.”
The remarks appear to acknowledge a growing gap between military operations and civilian government communication, while proposing that the Justice Minister be equipped with sufficient information to explain state actions to the public.
The comments come as Uganda faces mounting criticism over the prosecution of opposition veteran Dr. Kizza Besigye and the arrest of Erias Lukwago, President of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), who also serves as one of Besigye’s lead defence lawyers.
Lukwago was abducted from his home in Wakaliga as he planned to serve court documents on Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
He was later charged with misprision of treason and remanded to prison, a development that has sparked condemnation from lawyers, opposition politicians and human rights advocates, who argue that his detention raises broader questions about access to legal representation in politically sensitive cases.
Besigye, meanwhile, remains at the centre of one of Uganda’s most politically charged criminal proceedings. His prosecution has generated sustained public debate over due process, national security and the role of the courts, while attracting attention from both domestic and international observers.
As Justice Minister, Norbert Mao has repeatedly defended the government’s legal processes while also insisting that the Supreme Court’s decisions must be implemented. He has maintained that government institutions are obliged to follow the law.
Against that backdrop, the advice attributed to Saleh is notable because it appears to advocate greater coordination between the military establishment and the civilian justice ministry at a time when public scrutiny of security agencies has intensified.
Saleh, a veteran of the Front for National Salvation (FRONASA) and the National Resistance Army (NRA), serves as Senior Presidential Advisor on Defence and Chief Coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation.
Often described as one of President Yoweri Museveni’s closest advisers, he has long cultivated a reputation as a behind-the-scenes mediator in politically sensitive matters.
Whether the advice contained in the handwritten note will influence government communication remains unclear.
However, its emphasis on briefing the Justice Minister underscores the continuing tension between military operations, civilian oversight and public accountability as Uganda navigates one of its most politically sensitive periods in recent years.
Salim Saleh is Museveni’s younger brother, and one who a previous report described as a fearless general with capacity to remove Museveni from power if he wanted. (See Details Here).
As Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s uncle, Salim Saleh has previously revealed how Muhoozi saved him when Museveni wanted to throw him into prison Here.
Muhoozi has also revealed that Salim Saleh told him that the people he killed are waiting for him in heaven as reported Here.
Meanwhile, Muhoozi has hinted on Salim Saleh succeeding Museveni, even as rumored plans of Museveni planning to change the Constitution to hand power to his son persist. (See Details Here and There).
