The Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) has rejected reports that it petitioned Parliament for Shs1.5 billion to support the production and free distribution of a publication celebrating the life and leadership journey of Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
PLU, whose national chairman is Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, described the reports as false and demanded an apology from those responsible for publishing the claims.
The controversy follows reports that the organisation had approached Parliament seeking financial assistance for the production and distribution of more than 200,000 copies of 52 Dimensions, a publication unveiled to commemorate Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s 52nd birthday.
The reports claimed that PLU had requested financial support from Parliament to help meet costs related to printing, documentation and distribution of the publication to different institutions across the country.
According to the reports, the requested funds would have helped distribute copies of the book to schools, universities, public libraries, leadership and ideological institutions, youth platforms and other learning centres.
The publication’s chief editor, Kenneth Asiimwe, was quoted as saying that the publishers had written to Parliament seeking support amounting to Shs1.5 billion for the project.
However, PLU Secretary General Twalla Fadil has strongly dismissed the claims, saying the organisation never requested any money from Parliament and does not require such funding.
“PLU as an organization has not requested Parliament for any money, we don’t want it and we don’t need it,” Twalla said in a statement.
The PLU Secretary General accused those behind the reports of spreading what he described as misleading information aimed at damaging the image of the organisation and its leaders.
He said such reporting does not reflect the balanced and factual journalism that PLU believes should guide the media industry.
“This type of reporting is what PLU and our chairman Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba are fighting against in the quest to have a balanced and fair media,” Twalla stated.
Twalla argued that attention should instead focus on the purpose of the publication and the work of its author rather than creating what he called a false financial controversy.
He said the book was developed to highlight different perspectives, reflections and contributions from various sectors about Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s leadership journey.
“We want reporting based on facts and not misleading statements aimed at tainting the image of the organization,” he added.
The PLU official also defended the author of the publication, warning that linking the book to a financial controversy could overshadow its intended purpose.
“Do not water down the good works of the author of that book by creating a false financial narrative towards it,” Twalla said.
He further demanded that those who published the allegations issue an apology and correct what he described as inaccurate information.
“WE DEMAND AN APOLOGY,” Twalla said.
The controversy comes shortly after the launch of 52 Dimensions, a publication that was endorsed by Speaker of Parliament Jacob Marksons Oboth-Oboth during an event held at Parliament.
During the launch, Kenneth Asiimwe described the publication as a collection of commemorative reflections, feature articles, analytical perspectives and tribute messages from leaders in security, governance, Parliament, the judiciary, education, media, private sector, cultural, religious and civil society sectors.
The publication carries the theme “Resetting The Fact Of Default,” a phrase associated with Speaker Oboth-Oboth’s campaign during the race for Speaker of Parliament.
While earlier reports suggested that financial support had been requested from Parliament, PLU has now disputed the claims, insisting that the organisation did not seek any funding.
The disagreement has created a debate over the circumstances surrounding the publication of 52 Dimensions, with PLU maintaining that the reports were inaccurate and damaging.
The organisation has called for responsible reporting and insisted that facts should guide public discussions about its activities and publications.
