Museveni’s wartime driver seeks compensation, says govt ignored him

An 82-year-old man is seeking compensation from the Ugandan government. He claims to have been President Museveni’s personal driver during the early 1980s. He says he was abandoned after facing life-threatening risks and losing property.

Muhammed Musana is a peasant farmer from Namalenha Village in Bugiri District. He worked with Museveni between 1982 and 1983, a time of intense military activity. This period eventually led to Museveni’s rise to power in 1986.

Musana survived two attempts on his life by Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) soldiers. They were targeting Museveni, who was his boss at the time. Musana was alone in the vehicle during these attacks.

He claims that UPC troops destroyed his Peugeot vehicle in Namunteire Village. The vehicle had registration number UWL 029 and was lost along the Jinja–Tororo Highway. Additionally, Musana says his house was burned down, forcing him to rebuild his life.

“I worked with him for two years,” Musana said. “After my car was destroyed, he left me.” Now, he struggles to support his family of ten children and one wife through subsistence farming.

Musana is appealing to the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government for help. He seeks financial support, recognition, housing, education for his children, and jobs for them.

“If the government helps me, I will die a happy man,” he said. “I have never benefited from government programs.”

Musana began seeking help in 2000 when he approached then Fisheries Minister Fred Mukisa but received no response. He also wrote letters to other officials like former NRM Secretary General Justine Kasule Lumumba without success.

“I’ve written letters to government officials,” he said. “But no one has helped me.” Now that he is aging, he wonders when he will benefit from the government.

Bugiri Resident District Commissioner Paul Mwidu Kalikwani has promised to investigate Musana's case. “As the president’s representative, I’m taking this matter seriously,” Kalikwani stated.

He expressed confidence that all of Musana's requests would be considered. Kalikwani assured Musana to remain calm while they escalate the issue further up the chain of command.

Kalikwani's office plans to visit Musana’s home soon for more details and verification of his claims.