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Yoweri Museveni has publicly responded to veteran journalist Andrew Mwenda in a strongly worded statement defending his leadership, industrialization agenda, and government-backed investment projects.

In a lengthy commentary titled “Mr Mwenda, thank you for declaring me incapable of judging right,” President Museveni accused Mwenda of dismissing Uganda’s industrial and scientific progress while promoting what he described as “neo-colonial” thinking.

The president’s response followed criticism reportedly made by Mwenda questioning several government-supported projects and Museveni’s decision-making capacity.

Museveni opened his response by sarcastically thanking the journalist for describing him as “senile and incapable of judging right,” before insisting that even at 82 years old he remained capable of defending Uganda “with the Bible, the AK-47 and the pen.”

The Ugandan leader went on to challenge Mwenda to personally investigate several locally driven projects and innovations that government has supported over the years.

Among the projects Museveni defended were herbal medicine initiatives associated with David Ssenfuka, industrial ventures led by Magoola and Tugume, banana research projects linked to Professor Muranga, and the state-backed Kiira Motors vehicle manufacturing initiative.

According to Museveni, critics who dismiss such projects fail to appreciate the importance of industrialization and value addition in Africa’s economic transformation.

The president argued that Uganda and Africa continue losing enormous wealth by exporting raw materials instead of processed products.

As an example, Museveni pointed to gold exports, claiming Africa loses significant value by exporting partially refined gold rather than fully processed products. He also cited coffee exports, arguing that processed coffee generates far higher earnings than raw coffee beans.

Museveni further defended his government’s decision to ban the export of unprocessed minerals, saying the policy has helped expand Uganda’s gold refining industry.

According to the president, Uganda now hosts 10 gold refineries and has significantly increased its gold export earnings in recent years.

The public exchange has drawn significant attention because of the long and complex relationship between Museveni and Mwenda, who has for years remained one of Uganda’s most influential political commentators.

Mwenda, founder of The Independent Uganda, is widely known for his outspoken political analysis and commentary on governance, economics, and African development.

Analysts say the latest clash reflects broader ideological debates in Uganda surrounding industrial policy, state intervention, scientific innovation, and the country’s economic direction.

The dispute also highlights growing tensions between sections of Uganda’s intellectual and political class over the effectiveness of government-backed industrialization projects and public investment strategies.

While supporters of Museveni argue that state-led industrialization remains critical for Uganda’s long-term transformation, critics have questioned the sustainability, accountability, and commercial viability of some publicly supported ventures.

The exchange has since sparked widespread debate online and within political circles, with supporters from both sides weighing in on the future of Uganda’s economic development model.

Bassirou Diomaye Faye has dismissed Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and dissolved Senegal’s government following months of growing political tensions between the two leaders.

The dramatic announcement was made through a presidential decree read on national television, stating that President Faye had “ended the duties of Ousmane Sonko” along with those of ministers and state secretaries serving in the government.

The move marks a major political rupture within Senegal’s ruling leadership, less than two years after the pair secured a historic election victory that reshaped the country’s political landscape.

Sonko, one of Senegal’s most influential opposition figures and a popular voice among the youth, reacted shortly after the announcement, saying on social media that he would “sleep with a light heart.”

The dismissal followed a tense parliamentary session on Tuesday during which Sonko openly criticized President Faye, exposing divisions that had reportedly been building within the ruling Pastef movement for months.

Political tensions between the two leaders had increasingly become public in recent months, with reports suggesting that President Faye had grown uncomfortable with what he viewed as Sonko’s dominant political influence and “excessive personalisation” within the ruling party.

At the same time, Sonko had accused the president of showing weak leadership and failing to defend him against political attacks and criticism.

The fallout is particularly significant because Faye’s rise to the presidency was closely tied to Sonko’s popularity and political backing.

Sonko had originally been widely expected to contest and potentially win Senegal’s 2024 presidential election. However, a defamation conviction barred him from running, leading him to endorse Faye as the Pastef candidate.

The alliance proved successful, with Faye winning the presidency in what many observers described as an extraordinary political comeback. Both Faye and Sonko had been released from prison only days before the election after months of political unrest and legal battles that had drawn international attention.

Following news of Sonko’s dismissal, several hundred students reportedly gathered in the streets of Dakar overnight to demonstrate in support of the former prime minister, highlighting his continued influence among young Senegalese voters.

The political crisis comes at a difficult economic moment for Senegal. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the country’s public debt has reached approximately 132 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), increasing pressure on the government to stabilize the economy and maintain investor confidence.

Analysts say the split between Faye and Sonko could significantly reshape Senegal’s political future, especially within the ruling coalition that had largely depended on their partnership and shared anti-establishment message.

The dissolution of government is expected to trigger a cabinet reshuffle and potentially deepen uncertainty within Senegal’s political environment as the country navigates mounting economic and governance challenges.

Uganda’s Ministry of Health has confirmed three new cases of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), bringing the total number of confirmed infections in the country to five.

In a press release issued on May 23, 2026, the Ministry said the newly confirmed cases include a Ugandan driver, a Ugandan health worker, and a Congolese woman linked to earlier Ebola exposure and contact tracing investigations.

According to the Ministry, one of the new patients is a Ugandan driver who transported the country’s first confirmed Ebola case. Health officials said he is currently receiving treatment.

The second confirmed case involves a Ugandan health worker who was exposed to the virus while caring for the country’s first Ebola patient. Authorities confirmed that she is also undergoing treatment.

The Ministry noted that both individuals had already been identified among known contacts under follow-up by surveillance teams.

The third confirmed case is a Congolese woman residing in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). According to health authorities, she entered Uganda from the DRC while experiencing mild abdominal symptoms.

The patient reportedly traveled from Arua to Entebbe using a chartered flight and later sought medical attention at a private hospital in Kampala on May 10, 2026.

The Ministry said the woman was initially treated and discharged in stable condition on May 14 before returning to the DRC. However, Ugandan health authorities later received information from the pilot who had airlifted her, prompting additional follow-up investigations by surveillance teams.

Subsequent laboratory testing later confirmed that she had tested positive for Ebola Virus Disease.

Health officials said all contacts linked to the confirmed cases have since been identified and are currently being closely monitored by response teams as part of ongoing containment measures.

The Ministry of Health urged the public to remain calm but vigilant and continue observing all recommended preventive measures.

Authorities also called on the public to immediately report any suspected Ebola symptoms to the nearest health facility, emphasizing that early treatment significantly improves survival chances.

The Ministry further stated that it continues to strengthen surveillance systems, case management, contact tracing, and public awareness campaigns in efforts to contain the outbreak and protect public health.

The latest development comes as Uganda intensifies nationwide Ebola response measures, including enhanced border screening, public sensitization campaigns, restrictions on mass gatherings in high-risk areas, and strengthened health surveillance along the Uganda-DRC border.