By Spy Uganda
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has defended the government’s recent security operations, insisting they are aimed at protecting Uganda’s peace and strengthening the rule of law rather than reversing the country’s democratic gains.
In a lengthy national address delivered on Saturday night, Museveni responded to concerns raised by the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda regarding justice, human rights, trade order and environmental protection, arguing that Uganda must not allow impunity, corruption and lawlessness to undermine the progress achieved over the past four decades.
The President maintained that the National Resistance Movement (NRM) earned public trust by restoring peace and ensuring that Ugandans could “sleep peacefully,” a legacy he said should not be weakened by criminality or abuse of legal processes.
He defended the recent actions by security agencies, describing them as necessary interventions to fill long-standing gaps in law enforcement.
“What the security forces have been doing recently is not a regression in the fight for freedom but a consolidation of our long fight for patriotism, Pan-Africanism, socio-economic transformation and democracy,” Museveni said.
Museveni also criticized what he described as weaknesses within Uganda’s justice system, arguing that prolonged court processes, misuse of bail and legal technicalities have allowed some suspects to evade accountability.
Without naming new cases beyond those already before court, the President questioned why opposition figure Kizza Besigye has allegedly spent months ‘resisting trial’ instead of using court proceedings to defend himself, saying the justice system should not permit endless delays.
The President further revealed that he deliberately encouraged Muhoozi Kainerugaba to undergo ideological and military training after completing Senior Six, saying Uganda needed a new generation of disciplined officers to preserve the achievements of the liberation struggle after many original NRA commanders died.
According to Museveni, the deaths of several veteran commanders created room for careerists and opportunists whose actions contributed to corruption within the armed forces, including theft of military resources.
Beyond security matters, Museveni strongly defended the government’s ongoing operation against street hawking, arguing that selling goods on roadsides undermines tax collection, disadvantages licensed traders, creates health risks and obstructs pedestrians.
He directed local governments to explore providing organized trading spaces for former hawkers but insisted that all traders must be licensed, identifiable and tax compliant.
On environmental conservation, Museveni vowed that the government’s campaign to restore wetlands and protect natural forests will continue despite resistance.
He warned that both illegal encroachers and public officials who authorized destruction of wetlands would face scrutiny, emphasizing that Uganda’s wetlands are essential for sustaining rainfall, agriculture and long-term economic growth.
The President also raised concern over corruption in public health facilities and the Parish Development Model (PDM), urging citizens to report corrupt officials through government channels or religious leaders while using upcoming local elections to elect leaders committed to accountability.
Museveni concluded by calling on Ugandans to actively participate in the forthcoming NRM barazas, LC1 elections and Women Council elections, saying grassroots leadership remains critical in the fight against corruption and the country’s continued socio-economic transformation.
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