Museveni: State House System is Dead; Full of Rotten People

President Museveni engages with fishing communities at Jinja State Lodge recently.

KAMPALA — President Museveni has admitted that corruption has deeply penetrated State House and the broader government system, with some of his own officials accused of extorting money from people seeking access to him.

In a rare public acknowledgement, Museveni described the state of affairs as “dead” and “clogged by parasites,” revealing that individuals have been paying up to Shs 30 million to ensure their letters or requests reach him.

“People were paying money, 30 million. ‘Make sure the President sees this letter,’ and it’s true — when I would see it, I would answer and give a solution. And the bringer of the letter is paid… It happens here at State House. We have arrested them,” Museveni said.

The president was likely referring to a 2024 investigation that led to the arrest of senior State House officials by the Special Forces Command (SFC). Those detained included Lt. Vicky Munaaba, who managed correspondence for Presidential Adviser on Military Affairs Lt. Gen. Proscovia Nalweyiso; Rose Nalunga, a private secretary in Museveni’s office accused of sharing classified information with Kampala businessmen; Corporal Moses Kebba, a switchboard operator; and businessman Michael Christopher Ayeranga, who allegedly obtained and circulated an appointment letter before it was finalized.

The revelations echo long-standing public allegations that access to the president is often contingent on paying intermediaries.

Several Ugandans — including prominent investors — have claimed that only after bribing those close to Museveni could they secure an audience.

Museveni said the breakdown of trust in official channels has been so severe that some citizens have resorted to contacting his family members, bypassing the formal system entirely.

He cited a recent case where individuals approached his daughter Natasha after concluding they could not trust government intelligence officers or aides.

He said that Marcella Karekye — a State House official who also works in the media — was among those approached by desperate citizens.

“They see her in the media and say, ‘This one may know Museveni.’

Karekye also does not easily get me although she works here [at State House]. What does she do? She goes to Natasha. Natasha now became the Director General of Intelligence because the system is dead, rotten people,” Museveni said.

The president also recalled a similar case involving a Chinese investor, who was allegedly defrauded of millions of shillings by government officials promising benefits and access to him.

By the time he learned of the case, Museveni said, the investor had already suffered significant losses.

While the president publicly condemned the practice, he stopped short of announcing concrete measures to address the problem, leaving questions about how the deep-seated corruption will be curbed