Salim Saleh Breaks Silence on Reports That He and Museveni Daughter Natasha Own Hotel in Busabala Wetland

What began as a wetland restoration exercise in Busabala has evolved into a heated public debate involving allegations, social media claims, displaced residents and a firm denial from President Yoweri Museveni’s younger brother Gen Caleb Akandwanaho, better known as Salim Saleh.

At the heart of the controversy is a hotel that some social media users have claimed belongs to Gen Saleh and Natasha Karugire, a daughter of President Yoweri Museveni.

The allegations surfaced in a TikTok video that quickly gained traction online as discussions intensified over the recent demolition of homes in Busabala, Wakiso District.

In the video, the narrator claimed: “This is Gen Salim Saleh’s hotel that got over 600 houses razed down. It belongs to Salim Saleh and President Museveni’s daughter Natasha. They destroyed the homes to create a road to the hotel.”

The claim spread widely as public debate continued over a National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) operation carried out between June 2 and June 4 in the Kaliddubi Wetland.

According to NEMA, the exercise targeted encroached sections of the protected wetland and sought to restore approximately 10.3 hectares of degraded ecosystem. During the operation, more than 100 structures were demolished, leaving hundreds of residents displaced.

As speculation intensified, Gen Saleh publicly distanced himself from the allegations, firmly denying ownership of any hotel located in a wetland area.

In a note shared online, Salim Saleh dismissed the claims and questioned the narrative circulating on social media.

“I have seen a citizen on TikTok saying I own a hotel in Kampala and in a wetland. He alleges that I own the hotel with Natasha. He then likes to link this property to the whole race. This is private property. What type of freedom is this?” Saleh wrote.

His statement added a new dimension to an already controversial debate that has drawn widespread attention beyond Busabala.

Rather than clarifying ownership, Gen Saleh suggested that more details about land and property ownership in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area could soon be made public.

“Very soon we shall know who owns what in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area… Stay tuned,” he added.

Meanwhile, affected residents continue to raise concerns over the demolition exercise.

Some residents accused authorities of carrying out surprise evictions, while others questioned why certain developments appeared untouched during the operation. Many have also demanded compensation for their losses.

NEMA, however, has defended the operation, insisting that it was necessary to protect the wetland from further degradation.

The environmental regulator says the demolitions are part of a wider enforcement campaign aimed at safeguarding wetlands in Kampala and surrounding areas. It adds that earlier interventions, including warnings and community sensitisation, were carried out before the enforcement action.

As debate continues, Busabala remains at the centre of a broader national conversation on environmental protection, land ownership, and accountability in urban development.

For now, the controversy remains unresolved, shaped by competing claims, official denials, and growing public scrutiny over one of Kampala’s most sensitive environmental enforcement actions.

Gen Salim Saleh has previously revealed how much land he owns in Kampala. (See Details Here). 

Relatedly, a report has unmasked Salim Saleh as s Fearless General with Potential to Remove Museveni if he Wanted. (See Details Here).