Gashumba Breaks Silence After PLU Ouster

Businessman and political mobiliser Frank Gashumba has broken his silence following his removal from the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) Central Committee, claiming a resurfaced video in which he commented on the M23 rebellion was used to damage his standing within the organisation

Gashumba was among several prominent figures dropped from PLU’s top leadership structure during a major shake-up announced this week by Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

He has been replaced on the Central Committee by Attorney General and Senior Counsel Kiryowa Kiwanuka

Speaking after the restructuring, Gashumba defended his record in the movement and suggested that a campaign had been mounted to portray him negatively.

No foot soldier in PLU is unaware of the impact of Frank Gashumba,” said Gashumba.

“If the person who appointed me no longer sees any value that I can add to PLU, that is his choice,” he added.

“But what people need to know is that there is a brand called Frank Gashumba.”

Gashumba also addressed a controversial video clip that recently resurfaced on social media.

In the footage, recorded about three years ago, he warned that continued discrimination against Banyarwanda in Uganda could create conditions that might trigger armed resistance similar to the M23 rebellion in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

At the time, Gashumba argued that some Banyarwanda were facing difficulties obtaining national identity cards and travel documents and cautioned that unresolved grievances could fuel instability.

The remarks sparked criticism after the video re-emerged, with some social media users interpreting them as support for the M23 rebels.

However, Gashumba rejected that interpretation, insisting the footage was taken out of context.

“The clip circulating on social media about the M23 is a very old video clip. It dates three years ago. Our Banyarwanda were being discriminated against as they sought national identity cards and travel documents,” he said.

“People used it against me to undermine me in PLU.”

The comments come as Muhoozi undertakes a significant reorganisation of PLU’s leadership.

Besides Gashumba, those dropped from the Central Committee include former Secretary General David Kabanda, ministers Balaam Barugahara and Lillian Aber, and veteran mobiliser Henry Basaliza.

Kabanda said he had resigned from PLU and informed Gen Muhoozi before the Chief of Defence Forces announced the new leadership of the political pressure group.

Muhoozi has said the restructuring is intended to create a fresh leadership team capable of addressing new challenges facing the organisation, which has increasingly become a platform for his political mobilisation efforts.

While Gashumba no longer holds a seat on the Central Committee, his latest remarks indicate that tensions surrounding his departure remain unresolved and are likely to fuel debate within PLU ranks over the direction of the movement and the factors behind the leadership shake-up.