LIST: Top 10 Most Powerful People In Uganda

“All Animals are Equal but Some Are More Equal than others”, this phrase was used by Eric Arthur Blair alias George Orwell in his satirical masterpiece Animal Farm and up to date, it has indeed proved to be true.

Precisely, this could try to mean that all people are equally ‘powerful’ but there some who are much more powerful than others. That’s a raw fact and it’s indisputable, right?

Like in Uganda, when it comes to managing state affairs, there are some dignitaries who don’t even dare stand an inch near their more powerful colleagues when it comes to making decisions that keep the country moving forward.

Here are some of the most powerful people in Uganda:

1.General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni

Basing on Article 98 of the 1995 Uganda Constitution, as the current president of the country, Gen Yoweri Museveni is the most powerful person in the country. He heads the State, government, Commander in Chief of armed forces.

Since he is the President Museveni, is not liable to any form of indictment.

2.Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba

Being the first son, most of orders are not debatable. He was at the helm of the Special Forces Command for about seven years. He is also a presidential advisor to his father President Museveni.

3.Caleb Akandwanaho alias Salim Saleh

Gen Salim Saleh is the brother to President Museveni, although he retired from active politics, his decisions matter a lot than any active minister around. Currently, Saleh executes more critical assignments for his brother. He is Museveni’s Fixer man; he has sorted out agriculture issues, solved Boda Boda wars in Kampala, persuading the opposition to join the cabinet, listens to businessmen desperate for bailouts. It’s also alleged that he played a greater role in the formation of the current cabinet. Sources from inside call him second in command and his elder brother respects his moves.

4. Janet Kataha Museveni

She is the current first lady of Uganda and the most powerful woman in the country, she has the second largest motor barricade after that of the President. Her decisions are also highly considered. She is the current Minister of Education and Sport.

5.Sam Kahamba Kutesa

He is the Minister of Foreign Affairs, a post he has held since 2005. During the period September 2014 to September 2015, he was the President of the Sixty-Ninth Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Kutesa has had a lot of controversies however he has always made it out with no serious damage on his name simply because of his powers and connections he commands in and outside Uganda.

Regardless of the above, Kutesa is the father in law to Gen Muhoozi who married his daughter Charlotte Nankunda Kutesa which further cemented the tie between Kutesa’s family and the first family.

6.Gen Sabiiti Muzeyi

Although many people think Muzeyi is silent but his powers in Uganda Police Force are indisputable. It is also claimed that he is more powerful than his boss the Inspector General of Police Martin Okoth Ochola. The tough and resilient general has headed major and tough military posts where his legacy will always to be remarkable.

In 1997 he joined the UPDF and later served in the Presidential Protection Unit rising to number two in the elite force. While the first son Gen Muhoozi was serving as commander of SFC, Muzeey deputised him. Before he became the deputy police chief, he was the commander of military police.

Following the violation of Human Rights in Uganda by military, US government banned Ugandan Special Forces to train at its institutions and Muzeeyi was denied vacancy which annoyed Museveni who sent him for training in Russia.

7. Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi 

He is the 36th king of Buganda Kingdom and at the age of 11, he was appointed as heir apparent by his father Sir Edward Frederick Walugembe Muteesa II on 6 August 1966. On 31st July 1993, Mutebi was enthroned as King of Buganda.

In Buganda Kingdom setting he is the most powerful man and his orders are not debatable even his subordinates don’t question him.

In 2006, he refused the monthly Shs5million payment from the government given to cultural leaders.

He leads the largest ethnic group in Uganda and he is more respected and feared in his Kingdom than even President Museveni.

In 2009 when the central government refused him from visiting Bugerere in Kayunga district, tension and riots arose allover Buganda. A good number of people lost their lives in the incident before he called off the riot.

8. Rebecca Kadaga

Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga is the current Speaker of Parliament after succeeding Edward Ssekandi.  She is one of the most powerful people in the country and most cases she takes her stand even if the decision is likely to damage the reputation of her political party, National Resistance Movement.

9.Brigadier Abel Kandiho

Kandiho, the current head of Uganda’s Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence is one of the most feared active senior military officers, he is also among president Museveni’s best commanders.

He is also believed to have had a hand in the sacking of former Police chief General Edward Kale Kayihura. He ordered the raid on Usafi mosque and captured the suspects in the murder of 28-year old Suzan Magara.

He commandeered the arrest of  Kayihura’s most powerful men in Police; Senior Superintendent of Police Nixon Agasirwe, the former commander Special Operations Unit, Senior Commissioner of Police Joel Aguma, the commandant of the Police Professional Standards Unit, Assistant Superintendent of Police Magada, crime intelligence; Benon Atwebembeire, Sgt Abel Tumukunde, Kampala Metropolitan Police flying squad commander, Faisal Katende, flying squad and Amon Kwarisima.

Kandiho is a man that arrested self-appointed patron of Boda Boda 2010 Abdullah Kitata.

10.Major Gen Kahinda Otafiire

Otafiire is also among the people who have used their powers to exercise full authority in the country.

Currently, he saves as the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs. He is among the bush war generals who retired but feared.