The Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) has strongly condemned Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja and Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Dr. Diana Atwine for allegedly ordering the arrest of journalist David Mwesigwa following his exposé on deteriorating conditions in public health facilities in Mukono and Kayunga districts.
In a statement released on Friday 26th September 2025, UJA described the actions of the two senior government officials as a deliberate attack on press freedom and a blatant attempt to silence a journalist carrying out his constitutional duty of holding leaders accountable.
Mwesigwa, a reporter with Galaxy FM and TV, came under scrutiny after he raised serious concerns directly to President Yoweri Museveni during a post-nomination press briefing.
He highlighted severe service delivery failures at health centres in Mukono, Namuganga, and Kayunga. According to UJA, Mwesigwa had previously attempted to engage top officials, including Gen. Proscovia Nalweyiso and Dr. Atwine, about the issue efforts that were ignored.
Rather than addressing the health system failures, UJA says, the Prime Minister and Health PS responded with personal attacks.
During a media briefing, Nabbanja reportedly labelled Mwesigwa “a liar” and called for his immediate arrest a position echoed by Dr. Atwine. UJA described this move as a smokescreen to distract from the real issue, the poor state of health services in the affected areas.
“It is unfortunate that the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister refused to cooperate with a whistleblower who approached her in good faith,” the statement read.
UJA further accused Nabbanja of coordinating with local leaders in Mukono to superficially clean up health centres ahead of her visit.
Despite these efforts, Nabbanja is said to have later acknowledged during her tour that the facilities were indeed in urgent need of interventionbvalidating many of Mwesigwa’s original claims.
UJA also alleged that oxygen equipment was hurriedly delivered to Kayunga Regional Hospital shortly before Nabbanja’s arrival, contradicting her previous claims that there had never been shortages. In Namuganga, health workers were reportedly instructed to coach patients on what to say during the Prime Minister’s visit.
Responding to Nabbanja’s accusation that Mwesigwa avoided the Kayunga tour “because he knew he was lying,” UJA clarified that police had blocked the journalist from joining the Prime Minister’s convoy after he had covered the Mukono leg of the trip.
“This is not just an attack on Mwesigwa it is an attack on journalism as a whole. Even if Mwesigwa were lying, as alleged, he still enjoys constitutional protection under the right to free expression.”said UJA Secretary General Emmanuel Kirunda.
Citing Articles 29(1)(a) and 40(2) of the Constitution, UJA announced it would stand firmly with Mwesigwa. The association is organizing a peaceful solidarity march, where journalists will accompany Mwesigwa as he reports to police in response to the Prime Minister’s directive.
UJA’s legal team has also been activated to defend Mwesigwa’s rights and explore legal action against what it described as a coordinated attempt to suppress a whistleblower.
“We are deeply concerned that instead of addressing the real issues affecting everyday Ugandans, authorities have chosen to turn the whistleblower into a suspect,” Kirunda added.
The escalating standoff between the media and senior government officials is expected to fuel ongoing national debate around press freedom in Uganda and the safety of whistleblowers who expose institutional failures.