HEADLINE: Gen. Salim Saleh Reveals Past Financial Ruin, Sought Museveni’s Help to Avert Bankruptcy
DATELINE: KAMPALA, October 27, 2023
General Salim Saleh, the younger brother of President Yoweri Museveni and a influential figure in Uganda’s military and political landscape, has publicly disclosed a period of severe personal financial distress two decades ago that nearly led to the loss of all his property.
The revelation came over the weekend as the General recounted his past struggles, attributing his near-bankruptcy to his own “reckless” financial management in the years after he stepped down from the official role of Senior Presidential Advisor on Defence and Security in 1998.
According to Gen. Saleh, by 2003, he was engulfed in a crippling debt crisis. He admitted the primary cause was heavy losses from lending large sums of money to individuals who ultimately defaulted on their repayments.
“I was in financial troubles. I had lost money because of lending to people who couldn’t pay,” he recalled candidly.
Facing imminent financial collapse, he took the extraordinary step of travelling to Moroto to seek urgent intervention from his brother, the President. At the time, President Museveni was reportedly residing in a tent in the northeastern district, highlighting the informal and pressing nature of the meeting.
The General’s account sheds rare light on the personal vulnerabilities of a figure long perceived as a powerful and permanent fixture within Uganda’s establishment. His narrative underscores a stark transition from a high-ranking security advisor to an individual grappling with the consequences of private financial missteps.
While Gen. Saleh did not detail the specific resolution or the President’s response, his decision to publicly share this chapter appears to be a lesson in accountability. The confession also highlights the deep personal and familial channels that often underpin power dynamics within the nation’s leadership.
Gen. Saleh, whose current roles include overseeing several national development programs, remains a key advisor to the President. His story of past financial recklessness and familial rescue adds a complex layer to the public understanding of one of Uganda’s most prominent figures.
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