Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has accused opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, known as Bobi Wine, and his National Unity Platform (NUP) of trying to incite unrest by bringing in Kenyan Gen Z activists to Uganda.
In a March 1, 2026 interview on NBS TV, Museveni described a meeting with young Kenyans, whom he labeled as “experts in organizing riots,” allegedly sent by NUP to train Ugandan youth in protest strategies.
He stated that some local youth rejected this initiative and brought the Kenyan visitors to him. Museveni emphasized the need to focus on economic development rather than unrest, advocating for addressing issues like corruption and unemployment through constructive means instead of protests.
He highlighted Uganda’s economic advancements, noting surpluses in key commodities such as maize and milk, and underscored the importance of integrating East African markets. Museveni identified four critical sectors—commercial agriculture, artisanship, manufacturing, and services—as essential for economic growth. He reported that 70% of Ugandan households now engage in the money economy, a significant increase from 32% in 2013, attributing this to initiatives like the Parish Development Model.
In contrast, Museveni criticized the opposition for relying on external funding and mobilizing “nomadic crowds” for protests. He credited intelligence and public cooperation for preventing planned disruptions, linking them to demonstrations reminiscent of those in Kenya in 2024. While addressing protest management, he rejected the use of caning as outdated but defended the deployment of teargas and water cannons.
Museveni’s remarks, reminiscent of his December 31, 2025 New Year address, claimed Uganda narrowly avoided unrest similar to Kenya’s through vigilant security measures. His comments have ignited cross-border tensions, with critics alleging he is using these claims to stifle dissent ahead of elections. Human rights activists, including Kenyan Bob Njagi, have pointed to potential coordinated crackdowns, referencing the alleged involvement of Ugandan forces during Kenya’s 2024 protests.
