During Obote II, there was a notorious army officer in Teso. He was called Col. Omaria. This officer according to Inspectors, once he came to a place, whether a minister or who, they all had to recognize his presence and he automatically became the big man (Chief guest) at such an event. He actually wrestled power with Peter Otai who was the defense minister and also hailed from Teso. Similarly, President Museveni has had men and women who have enjoyed power while in power. Some would catch cold and the wanainchi sneezed! Who are these powerful men and women and how powerful were they? Read on!Christine Amongin Aporu
She was the woman MP for Kumi district before it was split into Ngora and Bukedea districts. The soft spoken Christine Aporu was the wife to former minister Dr. Aporu who was part of the three ministers abducted by UPA rebels and only one of them (Stanislaus Okurut) survived. Stanislaus hubby to former minister Karooro Okurut died a few years back.
It is stated that during her days, Christine held the key to seeing President Museveni. All MPs from Teso had to go through her if they wanted anything from the man with a round hat. It was stated that Aporu knew all the corridors of State House and was so powerful to the extent that she could meet the President any time, anywhere! As a thank you for her roles she played for him, Museveni appointed her to a state ministerial level before she finally lost touch with him. She’s now a commissioner in one of the commissions eating quietly.
Maj. John Kazoora
He was feared among the bush war comrades. Kazoora was an ADC to President Museveni and had all manner of powers. However, things turned upside down on him and he was knifed. He tried to meet the president several times but his dreams never materialized. Out of bitterness, Kazoora who is a lawyer decided to team up with anti-Museveni forces led by Kizza Besigye to remove their former boss. He didn’t stop at that, but also went ahead and penned a massive book ‘Betrayed by my Leader’ where he skins the President. He is now said to be ailing and Museveni is playing a part to save his life. Kazoora has since taken a back seat on active politics.
Maj. Gen. James Kazini
The current fleet of UPDF that you see on the city roads and anywhere with green colour is the legacy of Maj. Gen. James Kazini. Initially, this wasn’t the case. When President Museveni appointed him Army Commander, the first decree he made was for all defense and army vehicles to be painted Green. He summoned a meeting at Bombo General Headquarters and issued this directive for all army vehicles to be Greened! Not only did he do this, but also issued a directive that no officer should arrive beyond 8am at office. Those who arrived late were docked. Inspectors said these two innovations have continued to be respected in the army, the reason all vehicles are green and officers arrive on time for work. Unfortunately, Kazini died in the hands of a ‘speaking project’ identified as Lydia Draru who allegedly hit him on the head with a broom. The lovebirds are said to have had a night brawl which left the battle-hardened soldier from Kasese dead.
Brig. Nobel Mayombo
Even as he was so powerful, those close to him suggest Mayombo feared to drive himself. The reason was that he allegedly feared knocking people and see blood. That aside, the former Permanent Secretary Ministry of Defense was one of the most powerful creatures in the President Museveni’s government. Despite his age, Mayombo held key positions in the army and wherever he went, he exerted authority. He was a very intelligent lawyer and fearless in implementing the law. He is known for recruitment and training of various spies mainly girls majority of whom are now occupying various offices in the government. The young brigadier died of Acute Pancreatitis in 2007 and was taken back to his home village in Tooro.
Amama Mbabazi
He hails from Kihihi in Kanungu district. This gentleman indeed enjoyed power. He has occupied all offices up to that of Prime Minister and NRM secretary general. Actually, to prove how powerful he was, Amama at one point held two cabinet positions at ago. He was Minister for Security but also Attorney General. This earned him a title of Super Minister while his foes in the bush war baptized him as ‘Kalya Sausage’! Name calling notwithstanding, Mbabazi enjoyed all power to the extent that he had direct access to Army communication network. During his time as security minister, all security-related work and security chiefs briefed him and he would be the one to transmit this message to the CiC. This shows how powerful he was. So powerful he was that even when the President chose to dump him, he made a lone reshuffle on September 8 2014 at 10:00am. This was unprecedented in the history of NRM where one person was targeted in a reshuffle. The moment he fired him, Museveni left for Belgium and switched off his phones possibly to avoid a counter call from his man! Mbabazi immediately decided to stand against his former pal and his performance in the 2016 Presidential race was so terrible. None the less, the two principals finally buried the hatched and are now working together again. Amama is now based in Senegal where he oversees Africa Global Security agency on the recommendation of Museveni.
Kale Kaihura
This one needs no introduction. The former Inspector General of Police had every power. During his time, many people cried and others smiled as he gave power to every tom, dick and Harry. Unfortunately, some of those he gave power used it the wrong way resulting into alleged gross human rights violations which led to his being sanctioned alongside his family members. From him to all his former lieutenants, they all ended up in jail although he has since left it. Recent reports suggested that Kaihura is now bitter that no one wants to associate with him not even to invite him on any function. Other reports claimed he has since resorted to God and keeps reading the bible for devine intervention into his troubles. A lawyer by profession, Kaihura is now concentrating on his farm in Kashagama Lyantonde district.
Amelia Kyambadde
The longest serving Principal Private Secretary to the President, Amelia Ann Sserwaano Kyambadde was also the minister for trade and industry before she was knifed after losing her MP seat.
Inspectors said besides her official work, Amelia was (and still) acts as a bridge between the Kabaka and Museveni. That whenever either party has something to share privately, the former MP for Mawokota north comes into play. She is also said to be controlling a certain budget for several children whom President Museveni takes care of at a personal level. That aside, inspectors suggested that Amelia is the one who made several reforms into the operations of the office of the PPS and State House comptroller. One of them was to introduce a classified internal communication using papers even without writing anything on them.
Apparently, Museveni was being bombarded with financial requests from several people and he had no way to turn them away or directly inform them that their requests were huge. Therefore, he talked to Amelia to devise an internal arrangement where the ‘beggar’ would leave State House with smiles. In the deal, Museveni would meet the beggar(s) who explain what he or she wants and he gladly ‘agrees’ to the figure. The President goes ahead and writes that ‘figure’ on a certain paper instructing Amelia who was also a State House comptroller to implement. The beggar leaves the meeting with a smiling face hoping to get the whole amount. However, depending on the type and color of the paper Museveni wrote on, that’s the amount Amelia paid and she would promise to ‘give the balance’ later which actually never materializes. Every paper/color meant a certain figure! That’s how innovative she was and many such practices are still going on in State House. She’s currently at her home trying to restrategize for a political comeback in 2026 as she also works as an SPA/TI. Museveni has promised to support her bid
Spe Kazibwe
She’s the former Vice President of Uganda and former MP Kigulu South. The lady from Busoga was so powerful that she’s the one who told women to learn taekwondo. Since then, most women have become untouchables in their homes with many of them still referring to her words of ‘encouragement’ to learn self defense tactics.
Back in Busoga, she came up with a donkey project for her women to help them carry firewood, food etcetera. However, this project died a natural death the moment she was knifed. We’re told the locals simply turned on the donkeys and feasted on them without leaving any trace of the project.
Gilbert Bukenya
He’s also the former Vice President of Uganda. Much of his power was political with no meaningful authority to appoint even an RDC. However, within cabinet, Bukenya had the power. He is the one who led all ministers to Kyankwanzi to deliberate on how to extend President Museveni’s stay in power. During that Kyankwanzi retreat, Bukenya coined the popular Kisanja phrase meaning 3rd term. The retreat in 2003 ended with a resolution to scrap the Presidential term limits. This made many ministers fall out with Museveni but Bukenya and his group never looked back. In the Catholic church where he belongs, top clerics are said to have visited Museveni at Rwakitura where he asked them if they had any name to suggest as a possible successor to him. The clergy allegedly fronted Bukenya. Unknown to them, Museveni had already gotten an intelligence brief from MP Pereza Ahabwe accusing Bukenya of secretly building a power base within the Catholic church to oust the President. He also went ahead and stood for NRM secretary generalship and was badly beaten by Mbabazi. Eventually, he lost his VP seat, MP seat and ended up in jail. After years on katebe, Museveni recently appointed him as SPA on Environment!
Aidah Nantaba
The only person in this country who enjoyed being close the President was Aidah Nantaba, the woman MP Kayunga district. No wonder, she was later appointed to cabinet. So powerful she was that when she was appointed and her approval suffered hiccups courtesy of the Parliamentary Committee on Appointments chaired by equally powerful speaker Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, even other ministerial appointees who had been approved stayed in the corridors without being sworn in. It took like three months as the President was exerting pressure on the committee to approve his gal Nantaba. Finally, the committee approved her but not under Kadaga’s chair but Jacob Oulanya who sat in when Kadaga had left the country and within five minutes, she was approved! By the time Kadaga returned, Nantaba alongside her other (hitherto) corridor colleagues, had already been sworn in.
Back in Kayunga, Nantaba would host the President not less than thrice in a month. To prove her power, she one time called Museveni and put him on loud speaker and requested him to give food to her voters which he gladly promised. That’s how powerful she was. She also had direct access to State House fleet and she kept changing vehicles like pieces of cloth. She is now a very low profile person taking months without being heard of, having lost her ministerial position.
Betty Amongi
The UPC lady is now Minister for Gender, Labor and Social Development. Her close ties with President Museveni started way back during Nobel Mayombo’s days as head of CMI. We’re told Mayombo reached out to her and somehow, the duo started working together although she remained in her opposition politics. Eventually, President Museveni contributed to her wedding with Jimmy Akena and later formally appointed her to cabinet where she’s overseeing several multi-billion projects for the President. The main project is that of GROW!
Hillary Obalker Onek
This one, at one moment even nearly forced Museveni to create a second position of 2nd Vice President just like it’s the case with Prime Minister. The President really wanted to accommodate Onek. We’re told of all Acholis, Museveni greatly relies on Onek who has stood with him since the days of Kony war. Apparently, whereas all politicians in this Sub-Region were either UPC or FDC and some worked with the rebels, it is only Onek who from day one, stood on Movement ticket to date. Museveni therefore, wanted to appease him by appointing him as a second VP since Bukenya and also a Catholic was already around in the substantive VP position. When he failed in this, he appointed his man as Minister for Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries and later Minister for Energy and Mineral development. While in those two sectors, Onek allegedly created more enemies than friends that the technical people ganged up against him ‘Tubalemese style’!
Museveni decided to take him to Internal affairs but things here became worse for him to the extent that he was denied a lead car and even fuel to move. The President responded by taking him to the Ministry for Disaster where he has lived to date. But his power away from politics of Acholi, was technical. We’re told even now, Onek is like the defacto minister for Energy. The President ‘dumped’ him in disaster ministry because he wanted him to concentrate on the energy sector work since disaster has less assignments. Inspectors said there’s no Energy project like dams that’s implemented without Onek’s secret approval given his professional background as Water/hydrology expert. The President gets briefs from him.
Chrispus Kiyonga
He is currently the Chancellor Makerere university. He has held various positions in government including that of being the defense minister for 10 years. However, Kiyonga’s power lied in his brain. Inspectors said he was the man who would read all big documents submitted to the President and summarized them in not more than one and a half pages each before taking it back to the President.
Even a document of 1000 pages was read by the man from Busongora in Kasese. Inspectors said this enabled the President to make thorough appreciation of the content therein the documents before he could take any action. It’s not clear whether Kiyonga still does this assignment but he’s now eating as Chancellor Makerere university.
Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga
Initially, it was claimed that she belonged to opposition Force Obote Back Again (FOBA) but she has excelled in NRM politics for over 30years. She has occupied offices including that of minister, deputy speaker and full speaker. Kadaga had the power, authority and absolute power. For example, she would decide which MP could be a minister or not; by virtue of her position as chair of the Appointments commitment. That’s why faces like Muyanja Mbabaali, Saleh Kamba, Seya Ssebaggala, Margaret Mbeiza never featured in cabinet because of her strict adherence to the law. If you had no papers, you didn’t have them! Period! If you had questionable morals, still no chance! That was Kadaga with her power! She also knew how to dwarf political opponents back in Busoga until recently when she started feeling the heat and said some people were working for her political downfall. From speaker (No. 3) Kadaga was appointed a minister and she’s quietly eating under that banner with limited powers than she had before!
Cecilia Ogwal
Much of her power was in her ability to persuade opponents. She was opposition but when it came to national issues, she learnt something called ‘compromise’! That was Ogwal. The former Miss Uganda who died a year ago, had influence on almost all MPs and ministers regardless of their political backgrounds. A story is told of how one of the MPs from the North was ailing badly and kept claiming that he was being bewitched by his opponents and yet he had a strange disease. Ogwal sat the member down in a motherly tone and told him to stop living in denial but instead should start taking medicine. She even talked to Museveni who allegedly allowed the member to access drugs from the army. That’s how she saved him. The same Ogwal is the one Museveni used to prevail over Kadaga to accept a ministerial appointment following her speakership loss. This is how powerful she was. Cecilia died a year ago.
Evelyn Anite
The state Minister for investment was so powerful that in 2021 she told whoever cared to listen that she was the gateway to West Nile. This message was directed at opposition NUP principal Robert Kyagulanyi Bobi Wine. She went ahead and said ‘We (NRM) have the Maje’, a statement she has lived to regret years later. Her powerful status began when she moved the Sole candidate motion which was supposed to be moved by Annette Okwenye, the former MP Otuke district but she chickened out. Since then, she was appointed minister and remained powerful with direct access to the President and State House gates. She’s now quiet making regular appearances on X trying to regret her youthful actions.
Henry Tumukunde
When he was Director General of ISO, he was moving like the Head of KGB. He had all power and authority around him that everyone feared him. Gradually, Tumukunde lost this clout and was even put in Officers’ Mess. He then, joined the opposition and even stood against Museveni. He lost terribly. Tumukunde has since gone silent although reports suggest he now wants to stand as MP Rukungiri municipality on NRM ticket having lost his ministerial position.
Col. Sserwanga Lwanga
He was the first Principal Private Secretary to the President. The man from Ssese islands wielded a lot of power at the time and most of his bush war comrades saw him as a serious roadblock for them to see the President. He died long ago and was buried in Kalangala.
Elly Tumwine
Those who knew him during his days, the former army commander was ever the first to receive and wear any new army uniform design. If an officer in charge didn’t do this, Elly would ask ‘since when did I leave the army and who removed me?’
He loved being called by his rank (General). In fact, one of the scribes tested his power when he mistook his rank for a Major and Tumwine couldn’t stomach it. He demanded a correction the following day. As chair of the National Medal Awards Committee, a powerful Tumwine also allegedly blocked a move crafted by then JCOS Maj. Gen. Leopold Kyanda to award all soldiers with medals as a sign of recognition for their service to the nation. Kyanda we’re told had done everything and secured approval from CiC Gen. Museveni who summoned the UPDF High Command to resolve on the matter. However, a powerful Tumwine reasoned that the project never went through his committee for scrutiny. That’s how it failed. He died a year ago.
Wilson Mbadi
The longest serving ADC to President Museveni, Wilson Mbadi rose through the military ranks to become the CDF and now a state minister. His power went behind office to include saving lives.
A well trained soldier, Mbadi actually saved one of the VIPs (MP) who had traveled to France with the President for a conference. Apparently, the MP from Bugisu’s Mbale district, hipped a lot of food on his plate plus several pieces of meat. It seems he was so excited traveling with the big man and dining with him and other heads of State. As they enjoyed the meal, the male MP got choked on a piece of meat. Museveni saw the member struggling and asked Mbadi to help him, lest he died!
Mbadi administered a serious punch on the MP’s back and the piece of meat came out and nearly landed on one of the Presidents! That’s how powerful, Mbadi was! He’s now a state minister for trade!
Kizza Besigye
The former FDC president is now the Museveni’s foe since 2001. Besigye according to Inspectors, during his stay in the army was so powerful. While at office, the lieutenants below him tested his power. Inspectors said one would come, salute his boss but the man from Rwakabengo could at times refuse to respond to a salute. He always kept a pistol around his waist and walked Amin style. He is said to have had Museveni’s ear and many kadogos feared coming near him because of his toughness. We’re actually told that when he stood for President, because Museveni knew his working relationship especially with the kadogos, he unleashed them on him working under Maj. Kakooza Mutale of Kalangala Action Plan. Besigye who was also a State Minister for internal affairs, is said to have had more powers than even the senior Minister Kawanga Semogerere until he resigned. Currently, he’s in jail battling treason-related cases.
Other powerful men in Museveni’s government include David Tinyefuza Sejusa, Jaff Akiror, Ronald Kibuule, Jennifer Semakula Musisi, who are now home. More names to follow.
