KAMPALA – Galaxy TV journalist David Mwesigwa has reportedly gone into hiding after Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja directed police to summon him, a move that followed his direct complaint to President Yoweri Museveni about the dire state of health facilities in the central region.
The incident occurred last Tuesday at the Electoral Commission offices in Lweza, shortly after President Museveni’s nomination to contest for another term in the 2026 general elections. Mwesigwa seized the opportunity to personally inform the President about the poor conditions at health centers in Mukono, Kayunga, and specifically Namuganga Health Center III.
This public shaming of the government’s health service delivery, delivered directly to the head of state, is reported to have angered Prime Minister Nabbanja and officials from the health ministry. In response, the Prime Minister directed the police to summon the journalist for questioning.
In her defense, Prime Minister Nabbanja shifted the blame, asserting that the responsibility for the state of the facilities lay with the area Member of Parliament, Betty Nambooze. Nabbanja claimed the MP had failed in her duty to monitor such issues in her constituency and formally bring them to the government’s attention through the proper channels.
Speaking from an undisclosed location, David Mwesigwa confirmed the situation. “The Prime Minister ordered my arrest and investigation. However, I am not yet arrested. I am still in hiding,” the journalist stated.
The case has sparked immediate concerns over press freedom and the right of citizens and journalists to hold the government accountable. Critics argue that ordering the arrest of a journalist for raising public interest issues, especially after bringing them directly to the President, represents an intimidation tactic aimed at silencing scrutiny.
