UGANDA · POLITICS
Key Facts
- What is happening Gen. Salim Saleh, the president’s brother, is urging ruling party and opposition power sharing.
- Why it matters Uganda sends troops to Somalia and is a US security partner, so its stability matters in Washington.
- The numbers Saleh spoke to over 100 legislators and spoke of a window of three to six months.
- Who is who Saleh advises Museveni on defence; Norbert Mao is justice minister; Kizza Besigye is on trial for treason.
- What to watch Whether party leaders accept it after consulting members, and whether it reaches detained opposition leader Kizza Besigye.
- What it means for you Expect slow talks, not quick change; investors and travellers should treat Uganda’s politics as unsettled.
The president’s brother wants Uganda’s rivals to share power by agreement. Opposition leaders say prisoners must be freed first.
Gen. Salim Saleh, the younger brother of President Yoweri Museveni, spoke on Friday, 30 October, about healing Uganda’s divided politics. He addressed more than 100 legislators, mostly from the ruling party, who were touring factories at Kapeeka in Nakaseke District.
Reports say he also urged a power-sharing deal between the ruling party and the opposition, an idea called consociational democracy. It is a system in which rival groups share power by agreement.
It matters to US readers because Uganda is a security partner in East Africa and sends troops to Somalia. No official text of the speech has been released.
What Saleh Said
Saleh is the president’s senior adviser on defence and security. Reports say he told the legislators that Museveni had used similar approaches with former opponents and armed groups.
He is quoted as saying: “I hope we can convince each other in the next three or six months.” He declined to confirm reports that he is leading negotiations for Kizza Besigye’s release.
Besigye is a veteran opposition leader and a former ally of the president. He is on trial for treason at the High Court in Kampala with two co-accused and remains in detention.
Prosecutors allege a plot to overthrow the government, and all three accused deny the charges. Besigye was taken ill in the dock on Wednesday, 29 July, and Saleh says he arranged his move to a medical facility.
The Jinja Retreat Behind the Plan
Party leaders met at a retreat in Jinja in mid-October, organised by the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy, a Dutch democracy-support group. It focused on managing Uganda’s political diversity after the 2026 general elections.
Reports say historian Prof. Ogenga Otunnu presented a proposal there, which participants sent to the National Consultative Forum, a party-dialogue body. Its full text is unpublished.
Justice Minister Norbert Mao was reported as saying that carrying it out would need legal and constitutional changes. He was also reported as saying the president had read the proposals and was comfortable with them.
On 20 October, Mao said Museveni had directed consultations with stakeholders on the cases of Besigye and Erias Lukwago, another opposition figure. He defended the judicial process.
Why the Opposition Hesitates
Opposition leaders at the retreat called for the unconditional release of all political detainees and the safe return of exiled politicians. They called this an indispensable prerequisite for meaningful engagement in any national dialogue.
Mao was reported as calling the demand legitimate but not a precondition, because the cases are before the courts. He proposed putting the issue on the dialogue agenda.
On Saturday, 31 October, the DP at Heart faction of the Democratic Party reportedly demanded member consultation and a referendum first. Its leader, Ismail Kiirya, objected to what he called secrecy.
The faction said a weaker opposition would mean less scrutiny of government bills. It also said the framework could lead to Parliament choosing the president instead of a direct vote.
The Political Backdrop
Museveni has led Uganda since 1986 and was sworn in for a seventh term on Tuesday, 12 May. His National Resistance Movement, known as the NRM, signed a cooperation deal with the Democratic Party in 2022.
Mao, the Democratic Party’s president, joined the cabinet under that deal. The DP at Heart faction says the deal was negotiated by a few leaders without full disclosure.
What It Means for US Readers
No US policy follows directly from a plan that is still at the consultation stage. Uganda sends troops to Somalia and receives US assistance, so a lasting political settlement would lower risk for partners and investors.
Travellers should follow the State Department’s current Uganda advisory, because political tension can bring protests and arrests. Investors should read the talks as a signal about stability, not a guarantee of it.
Related Rio Times reports include Museveni Succession Paper Tabled on 27 Oct and Who Runs Uganda’s Economy, the Key Players in 2026. Wider background sits in Uganda Explained.
What Is Not Known
No official text of Saleh’s speech or of the proposal has been published. The power-sharing framing, the retreat details and the faction’s statements each rest on press reports, so they are attributed here.
It is not confirmed whether Besigye takes part in any talks. Saleh declined to confirm that he leads negotiations, and Besigye’s family and allies have denied taking part in bargaining.
No formal endorsement by Museveni or the NRM has been found beyond Mao’s reported remarks. This report gives no October inflation figure for Uganda because it could not check one against the statistics bureau’s own release.
What Comes Next
The DP at Heart faction says party leaders were given two weeks to consult members and report back. No public response from the NRM or the main opposition parties had been found by Sunday, 1 November.
The plan is not law and does not change who governs Uganda. Mao said carrying it out would need legal and constitutional reform.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is consociational democracy?
It is a system in which rival political, ethnic or religious groups share power by agreement. Supporters say it reduces conflict in divided societies.
Who is Salim Saleh?
Gen. Caleb Akandwanaho, known as Salim Saleh, is the president’s younger brother and his adviser on defence and security. Reports say he has promoted the power-sharing idea.
Has Uganda’s opposition agreed to the plan?
Not yet. Opposition leaders at the retreat asked for prisoners to be freed first, and a Democratic Party faction wants a referendum.
Why does Uganda power sharing matter to Americans?
Uganda is a security partner in East Africa and sends troops to Somalia. A calmer political climate lowers risk for aid programmes and investors.
Sources: Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy, Uganda programme; Uganda Bureau of Statistics; public statements by Gen. Salim Saleh, Justice Minister Norbert Mao and the DP at Heart faction (all accessed 1 November 2026).
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief