Life In Danger!! Journalist Who Questioned Museveni On Health Care System Rot Goes Into Hiding After PM Nabbanja Orders Police To Arrest Him

David Mwesigwa, a journalist affiliated with Galaxy TV, has gone into hiding following a controversial directive from Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja. The order came in the wake of Mwesigwa’s investigative reporting on the critical state of healthcare services in several districts, including Mukono, Kayunga, and Namuganga Health Center III.

Mwesigwa brought national attention to the issue when he directly addressed President Yoweri Museveni last Tuesday at the Electoral Commission headquarters in Lweza, where the President had just completed his nomination for another term in office. The journalist took the opportunity to raise urgent concerns about the deteriorating conditions in government health facilities.

“When I was in State House in June, I reported to you Your Excellency that in Mukono General Hospital, Kayunga General Hospital, and Namuganga Health Center III, mothers give birth on the floor. I also reported to you that in Kayunga hospital, oxygen plants have been faulty for one and a half years. I further reported that Namuganga Health Center III has only four doctors who don’t work on weekends,” Mwesigwa told Museveni.

President Museveni responded by instructing Prime Minister Nabbanja to follow up on the journalist’s claims. In compliance with the President’s directive, Nabbanja conducted on-site inspections of the mentioned facilities.

During her visit to Mukono General Hospital, the Prime Minister acknowledged the excessive patient load and overcrowding. She observed that the maternity ward and corridors were filled with expectant mothers due to the high number of patients being treated.

“The turnout of patients shows that doctors there are working. The hospital is too crowded, to the extent we had nowhere to pass. But we appreciate that this is a regional hospital,” Nabbanja said.

However, her reaction shifted dramatically at Kayunga Hospital, where she firmly rejected Mwesigwa’s claims regarding the non-functional oxygen plant. She labeled the information as false and accused the journalist of misleading the President. In a firm response, Nabbanja instructed the police to summon Mwesigwa, demanding that he retract his statements and issue a formal apology.

“He deceived the President by claiming the oxygen plant is not working. I want the commissioner of police here to ensure the man is summoned to make a statement retracting his claims,” Nabbanja said.

“He must make a statement and apologize to the President,” she added.

Shortly after these remarks, rumors began to circulate suggesting that Mwesigwa had been arrested. However, the journalist later refuted these reports by releasing a video message in which he clarified his situation. He stated that although he had not yet been detained, he was in hiding to avoid what he believed to be politically motivated retaliation.

“The Prime Minister ordered my arrest and investigation. However, I am not yet arrested. I am still in hiding,” Mwesigwa said.

At this point, it remains unclear whether the journalist will face official charges. The incident has triggered widespread debate about press freedom in Uganda, with many questioning whether the state’s response is appropriate in light of the role journalists play in exposing public service deficiencies.

Mwesigwa’s report has shed light on the deep-rooted challenges facing Uganda’s healthcare system, particularly in underfunded and understaffed rural hospitals. As public attention continues to grow around the case, media advocates and civil society organizations are calling for transparency, accountability, and protection of journalists who report on matters of public interest.

The government, meanwhile, has not issued further clarification regarding its intentions toward Mwesigwa, leaving his legal status uncertain. His case is quickly becoming a litmus test for how Uganda handles investigative journalism and criticism of public institutions