KAMPALA, Uganda— Senior presidential adviser and retired Gen. Salim Saleh, the brother of President Yoweri Museveni, has advised opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, known as Bobi Wine, to focus on understanding the president’s economic philosophy, “Musevenomics,” rather than attacking the first family.
In a public response Sunday, Gen. Saleh, whose civilian name is Caleb Akandwanaho, pushed back on recent criticism from the National Unity Platform (NUP) leader.
“Dear son, that friend of mine does not understand Museveni,” Gen. Saleh wrote in a statement, which was originally in Luganda. He added that the president had guided his own understanding of national planning, saying, “President Museveni took me back to school.”
The remarks follow Kyagulanyi’s statements last week during a campaign rally in Nakaseke district, where he urged the first family to convince Museveni to step down peacefully.
“In that family, you [Gen. Saleh] are the only reasonable one,” Kyagulanyi said, urging the general to advise his brother to opt for peaceful retirement to avoid provoking public anger.
The Philosophy
The exchange recalled a 2020 instance when Gen. Saleh sought clarification from his brother on aspects of the National Development Plan III. President Museveni responded by referring him to materials elaborating on Musevenomics, which underpins Uganda’s current development agenda.
First articulated after Museveni took power in 1986, Musevenomics is described by proponents as a homegrown development philosophy centered on grassroots wealth creation and transforming the economy from subsistence farming to modern productivity.
The philosophy, which has evolved over four decades, is founded on nine key pillars, including:
- Awakening peasants into the money economy.
- Fostering value addition.
- Security of persons and property.
- Zero tolerance for corruption.
- Economic and political integration.
Proponents argue the doctrine has guided Uganda’s economic stability and poverty reduction efforts since the late 1980s.
