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March 6th , 2025

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MEET THE POWERFUL WOMAN ENFORCER BEHIND MUSEVENI RULE

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General Proscovia Nalweyiso is Uganda’s highest-ranking female officer and a trusted confidante of President Yoweri Museveni, wielding significant power both in the military and political spheres. Known for her ruthlessness and unwavering loyalty, Nalweyiso has become one of the most influential figures in the country’s political and military landscape.


Having spent decades in service, Nalweyiso is a key enforcer of President Museveni’s authority. Her role as a senior advisor on defense and security extends far beyond typical advisory duties. She has cemented her place as a key powerbroker within Uganda’s political and military sectors, ensuring that both allies and opponents remain loyal to Museveni’s government. Nalweyiso’s influence is most evident in her handling of any disloyalty within the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), which she has worked tirelessly to preserve.


In 2009, Nalweyiso played a crucial role in suppressing internal dissent within the NRM when a group of youth leaders was accused of plotting to challenge Museveni’s authority. Her swift actions resulted in the neutralization of these figures, with several leaders sidelined or imprisoned on charges of sedition. This move sent a clear message to the party’s ranks: any attempt to undermine Museveni would not be tolerated. Nalweyiso’s decisive actions reinforced her reputation as an enforcer of loyalty, and her ability to quell internal opposition within the NRM solidified her position in the regime.


Nalweyiso’s influence also extends deeply into Uganda’s military reshuffling, which has played a crucial role in consolidating Museveni’s control over the country’s security forces. In 2017, she was instrumental in orchestrating the removal of Maj. Gen. Felix Kulayigye, a senior military officer who was perceived as a potential rival to Museveni. This move was part of a broader strategy to ensure the loyalty of key military figures and prevent any potential challenge to the president’s power. Similarly, in 2019, she was involved in the reassignment of Maj. Gen. Don Nabasa from his position as commander of the Special Forces Command (SFC), an elite unit tasked with protecting the president. These maneuvers helped ensure that Museveni’s military apparatus remained firmly under his control, with Nalweyiso at the heart of these decisions.


Despite her powerful role, Nalweyiso’s influence has not been without controversy. In the run-up to the 2020 elections, opposition leaders, including Bobi Wine, accused her of using her security apparatus to undermine their campaigns. Claims of harassment and interference with opposition logistics were prevalent, with some alleging that Nalweyiso’s security forces played a significant role in disrupting the campaigns of political rivals. Although the full extent of these accusations was difficult to verify, they underscored Nalweyiso’s role in ensuring the regime’s dominance, even at the cost of suppressing political dissent.


Through her strategic interventions and ironclad loyalty to Museveni, General Nalweyiso has proven herself an indispensable figure in Uganda’s power structure. Her ability to manipulate the military and political landscape behind the scenes, while maintaining unwavering support for the president, has solidified her status as one of the most feared and respected figures in the country.





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Rigathi Gachagua

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