Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and First Lady Janet Museveni publicly apologised for the government’s failures as the country gears up for general elections in 2026. The apology came during a national evangelical convention organised by their daughter, Pastor Patience Rwabwogo, where the couple addressed governance lapses, corruption, and growing disconnection between the state and the people, especially in the Buganda region.
Addressing the congregation, the Musevenis delivered a joint prayer of repentance, admitting to negligence and seeking both divine and public forgiveness. “We acknowledge that we are human, we have erred, and we have missed the mark. Forgive us, oh Lord,” the couple said, according to The Monitor. “As leaders of the Movement, we humbly take responsibility for the mistakes made by ourselves and our representatives.”
First Lady Janet Museveni specifically addressed longstanding grievances from Buganda, a region once pivotal in Museveni’s rise to power but which has increasingly leaned towards the opposition. She acknowledged the administration’s failure to maintain close ties with grassroots supporters, saying, “We ask for forgiveness especially from the people of Buganda and the entire nation. Many at the grassroots feel ignored, abandoned. Their anger is justified.”
The message concluded with a spiritual appeal for national healing and renewed unity. “Lord, restore the favour we had at the beginning. Soften hardened hearts and connect us to the original vision of national unity and transformation,” they prayed.
However, the public apology has drawn mixed reactions. Critics have labelled the moment a strategic performance rather than a sincere admission of fault. Sarah Birete, head of the Centre for Constitutional Governance, told NTV Uganda that the president’s apology would have held more weight if it came with an announcement of retirement. “What the president said would have made much more sense if he were stepping down and retiring to Rwakitura,” she said. Political historian Dr John Paul Kasujja added that the apology had come too late and felt performative rather than transformational.
The timing and setting of the apology, delivered from a religious platform, have also raised questions about its political intent. Analysts suggest that Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, may be using religious sentiments to soften public perception and recalibrate his image ahead of the next election.
The Buganda region, historically crucial to Museveni’s political support, has been drifting away from the ruling National Resistance Movement since the violent 2009 clashes sparked by tensions between the government and the monarchy under Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II. The region has since shown growing support for opposition figures, most notably Robert Kyagulanyi, known as Bobi Wine.
Museveni’s long tenure has been marked by constitutional changes that abolished presidential term and age limits, as well as sustained criticism for suppressing dissent and curbing political freedoms. While the apology may signal an attempt to rebuild public trust, many remain unconvinced of its sincerity or its potential to bring about meaningful change.
