KAMPALA — Kasambya County MP David Kabanda has resigned as secretary general of the Patriotic League of Uganda, exposing internal tensions within the movement led by Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Kabanda announced his resignation on Sunday. He accused some people within PLU of selfish interests, financial greed and extortion.
The MP did not name the individuals he was accusing.
“There are some people in PLU who think I am the one blocking their chances of getting what they want. Many are there for other interests like money—to con people,” Kabanda said during his exit announcement.
“They say, ‘You give me money, I take you to Muhoozi,’ but now they see it is Kabanda blocking them. They can even kill you,” he added.
Muhoozi Accepts Resignation and Names New Secretary General
By Monday morning, Gen Muhoozi, who is the Chief of Defence Forces and PLU chairperson, had accepted Kabanda’s resignation.
He then announced changes to the PLU Central Committee.
Muhoozi replaced Kabanda with Tingey County MP Fadil Twalla, who has been serving as PLU co-ordinator for the Sebei subregion.
The leadership change comes as PLU continues to strengthen its alliance with the ruling National Resistance Movement.
PLU started as the MK Movement before it was rebranded. It has described itself as a civic organisation that promotes national unity, peace and stability.
However, its growing role in national politics has continued to attract public attention because of its links to Muhoozi, who is President Yoweri Museveni’s son.
Muhoozi Says PLU Needs a Fresh Team
Muhoozi framed the changes as part of a wider restructuring of the organisation.
“In the next few months, I will appoint a new membership of the Central Committee of PLU. We achieved what we set out for with the previous team. The new challenges that face us need a fresh team,” Muhoozi said.
He also appointed Parliament Speaker Jacob Marksons Oboth and Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa as his “special envoys to Parliament”.
Other senior figures named to the PLU Central Committee include Defence and Veterans Affairs Minister Kiryowa Kiwanuka, Agriculture Minister Frank Tumwebaze and Trade Minister Sanjay Tanna.
Kiryowa was appointed vice-chairperson for Buganda. Tanna will represent the business community.
Muhoozi also named other members of the committee and directed PLU national vice-chairperson Michael Nuwagira, commonly known as Toyota, to organise a formal handover ceremony from Kabanda to Twalla.
He instructed PLU-leaning ministers and Members of Parliament to attend the handover.
PLU Says It Will Focus on Government Programmes
Muhoozi said PLU’s partnership with the NRM is aimed at delivering results for Ugandans.
“PLU’s strategic alliance with NRM is based on achieving results for our people. Our members in the Cabinet and Parliament must follow the President’s instructions to return to the grassroots and effectively monitor government programmes,” Muhoozi said.
He added that PLU would support President Museveni’s target of growing Uganda’s economy to a $500 billion gross domestic product by 2031.
“Our task as PLU is to achieve Mzee’s target of a $500 billion GDP by 2031! I will supervise ALL government departments to achieve that goal,” Muhoozi said.
The latest reshuffle places senior parliamentary and Cabinet leaders inside PLU’s central structure.
It also comes at a time when political observers continue to debate how the organisation will operate alongside the NRM as Uganda moves toward the next political cycle.
Kabanda Remains on PLU Committee
Although Kabanda has left the secretary general role, he remains a member of the PLU Central Committee.
His resignation, however, has brought internal grievances into the open.
Kabanda’s claims point to concerns about alleged influence-peddling around access to Muhoozi. PLU leaders have not publicly named any person accused of the alleged conduct.
The appointment of Twalla now shifts attention to how the organisation will manage internal discipline, grassroots mobilisation and its relationship with NRM structures.
