Balaam Dismisses Frank Gashumba Drama, Hints at Major PLU Shuffles at Kyankwanzi Retreat

KYANKWANZI — The newly appointed Minister of Local Government, Hon. Dr. Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi, has downplayed simmering tensions involving outspoken activist Frank Gashumba, playfully describing him as a “movie star” and a “dangerous substitute” while hinting at major impending developments within the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU).

Speaking to journalists at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi—where the new cabinet is currently locked in a retreat following their swearing-in—Barugahara addressed the media storm surrounding Gashumba’s recent displacement from the PLU leadership structure.

Gashumba was recently replaced as the PLU Vice Chairman for the Central Region (Buganda), sparking widespread speculation about an internal rift.

“Gashumba is a movie star. He is our biggest dangerous substitute,” Barugahara remarked, using sports terminology to imply Gashumba remains a powerful asset to the movement even from the bench.

The minister firmly denied that Gashumba had made some of the highly inflammatory statements currently circulating in the media, emphasizing that he would only react after hearing directly from his long-time ally.

The Abavandimwe Factor

Defending Gashumba’s status, the minister praised his intellect and pointed out that the activist is already saddled with massive responsibilities outside active PLU central committee maneuvering.

“Frank Gashumba is equally very intelligent, and he has an office which is equally big—that of the Abavandimwe—which needs his time, with a membership of more than 100,000 members,” Barugahara stated.

He further reassured supporters that the restructuring is part of a standard administrative process, signaling that the appointing authority is far from done. “There is no reason to believe Chairman [Gen.] Muhoozi Kainerugaba has stopped naming people for the central committee of PLU.”

Closing his remarks with a teaser that has since set political corridors buzzing, Barugahara dropped a subtle bombshell:

“Trust me, something big is coming up. Don’t get shocked.”

The Friction Behind the Reshuffle

The minister’s comments come on the heels of a quiet but decisive PLU leadership reshuffle orchestrated by the overall Chairman, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

Gashumba—a high-profile mobilizer, businessman, and Chairperson of the Council for Abavandimwe (an association advocating for the rights of the Banyarwanda community born in Uganda)—was conspicuously stripped of his influential Buganda regional vice-chair position.

Insiders intimate that tensions escalated following recent candid public remarks by Gashumba that did not sit well with the top brass of the PLU leadership.

The Changing Political Landscape

While Gashumba has been a fierce defender and cornerstone of the ‘MK Movement’ (which later rebranded to PLU), he recently indicated that he no longer considers himself a formal member following his unceremonious removal from the executive structure. However, his leadership of the fiercely loyal and massive Abavandimwe contingent keeps him firmly positioned as a critical political kingmaker.

On the other hand, Hon. Balaam Barugahara—a veteran events promoter who served as PLU Vice Chairman for Western Uganda before his elevation to cabinet minister—continues to act as the de facto public face and chief defender of the movement.

Political analysts view the current Kyankwanzi retreat as a staging ground for the PLU’s next major step. Barugahara’s cryptic warnings point toward a massive organizational consolidation as the league positions itself for upcoming political transitions.

Watchdog Uganda is closely monitoring the Kyankwanzi retreat and will bring you updates on the major PLU announcements as they break.

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