Journalist Andrew Mwenda has issued a public apology to President Yoweri Museveni following a heated exchange triggered by his earlier remarks questioning the President’s capacity to make sound judgments.
In a statement, Mwenda said he regretted the tone and language used in his criticism, acknowledging that it went beyond acceptable journalistic standards.
“So I want to apologize to the President and also to Magoola and Senfuka,” Mwenda said. “I was unfair to them when I called them conmen and witch doctors. It is utterly unjustified to insult someone that way.”
Mwenda further admitted that his choice of words weakened the substance of his argument, shifting attention away from policy concerns he intended to raise.
“In fact that framing undermines the policy argument I was making,” he said.
He added that public debate should allow disagreement without personal attacks.
“Besides, I always advise young people that we can disagree without being disagreeable,” he noted.
Mwenda also expressed regret over his tone, saying it did not reflect the standards he aims to maintain.
“I feel bad that I wrote in such a bad language, like a NUP activist rather than a journalist and an intellectual that I aspire to be,” he said.
The apology follows a strong response from President Museveni, who dismissed Mwenda’s earlier claims and defended his leadership and decision-making capacity.
Museveni challenged Mwenda to investigate local industrial and agricultural projects, which he said demonstrate Uganda’s ongoing economic transformation.
He cited developments in manufacturing, mineral processing, agriculture, and infrastructure as evidence of growth.
The exchange sparked widespread debate on political criticism, media responsibility, and the limits of public discourse in Uganda, drawing reactions from both government supporters and critics.
Mwenda’s statement now marks a clear shift from confrontation to self-reflection, with emphasis placed on tone and professionalism in public debate.