Retired General and Senior Presidential Adviser Salim Saleh has rejected claims linking him to land grabbing, arguing that both opposition politicians and members of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) have misunderstood his work and intentions.
Speaking to business leaders at Namunkekera Industrial Park in Nakaseke District on October 17, 2025, Saleh said his efforts to promote industrialisation and support Uganda’s productive sectors are often misrepresented.
> “I have a dilemma because NRM does not understand me, and NUP does not understand me,” he said, referring to the National Unity Platform (NUP).
Saleh was responding to accusations from Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine), who had accused him of land grabbing. He dismissed the claims, explaining that he sold his Garuga waterfront property before relocating to Kapeeka. Saleh further suggested that Kyagulanyi himself may have larger land controversies, remarking, “In terms of land grabbing, he might even be a bigger land grabber.”
He urged political leaders to move beyond rhetoric and invest more energy in activities that drive economic growth, noting that many politicians are disconnected from local governance and business realities.
> “You should spend more time in productive work, not politicking,” he emphasized.
Saleh also pointed to persistent challenges in land management and delays in the Chapa loan scheme as contributing factors to land-related unrest. He called for stronger collaboration between government and the private sector to ensure that national programmes effectively support economic actors.
Land remains one of Uganda’s most contentious issues, with recurring reports of land grabbing and forced evictions. Saleh’s comments underscore the ongoing mistrust and communication gaps between government officials, ruling party members, and the opposition on how land and development are handled.
