PLU summons Gashumba over ‘public attack’ on first son Muhoozi

Kampala, (UG):- The Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), a civic pressure group headed by the First Son, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba has summoned socialite and political commentator, Mr Frank Gashumba over disciplinary reasons.

Gashumba, who also doubles as the PLU Vice Chairman for Central Region is expected to appear before the disciplinary committee to defend himself over a post he posted on X (formerly Twitter) which the group perceived as a “public attack” on Gen Muhoozi, its Chairman and Chief of Defence Forces.

“I am writing to inform you that you are required to attend a disciplinary hearing at 1500 hours on Wednesday, 29th May 2024 at the PLU Secretariat, Plot 7 Saddler Lane, Naguru,” Mr Micheal Mawanda, the chairperson of the PLU Disciplinary Committee in a letter addressed directly to Gashumba dated May 27, 2024.

“The purpose of the hearing is to consider an allegation of misconduct against you,” he added:

According to the letter, it is alleged that on Sunday, May 26, Gashumba, using his social media account on X posted a message directly addressing it to the head of UPDF (who happens to be Gen Muhoozi) and other security agencies decrying the increasing criminality in the country.

In his post, Gashumba said; “If you cannot protect Ugandans with their properties, simply resign. Every day we see social media clips of Ugandans being assaulted, robbed and even murdered by gangs on the streets of Kampala and several testimonial reports and recordings on different categories of young females, and males, traumatized by the thuggery (sic) even in broad daylight.”

“We as Ugandans, we are wondering why they pay you people’s salaries. You are paid to protect lives and properties. If these gangs have overpowered you, you don’t qualify to wear our uniforms…If UPDF can pacify Somalia, South Sudan and some parts of Congo how can it fail to wipe out these broad daylight thugs,” he added.

According to Mr Mawanda; as if that was not enough, Gashumba “proceeded to attach a picture of the Chief of Defence Forces and Chairman of Patriotic League of Uganda, and to tag his X handle as further manifestation of the direction of this attack.”

“Your words meant and were understood to be a public attack on the Chairman of the Patriotic League of Uganda,” Mawanda emphasized.

However, Gashumba said he was yet to receive the summons but denied publicly attacking his Principal and PLU Chairman in his post.

“I did not directly attack Gen Muhoozi. I just attached his picture and that of Abbas Byakaba’s on my X post because they are the heads of the armed forces,” he said when contacted for a comment over the summons on Tuesday morning.

“I wanted to draw the attention of security personnel to the spike in crime in Kampala. The pictures of the heads of security helped me make my posts to trend on X,” he emphasized, adding; “Did I ask Gen Muhoozi to resign? No. I like and support him. I have his pictures in my living room and study room. Can you do that if you don’t like him?”

However, according to Mr Mawanda, Gashumba’s words damaged the reputation of PLU’s nascent organisation and its leadership.