Who is Odrek Rwabwogo?
By Lawrence MAYANJA
Odrek Mugisha Rwabwogo is an author, farmer, businessman, ideologue, instructor, and Special Advisor to President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda.
Rwabwogo was born on September 17, 1969, as the fifth child in a family of seven children. He was born and raised in Naama, Kinoni Sub County, Nyabushozi Constituency, Kiruhura district.
He was born to the late Thomas Rwabwogo and the late Mrs. Erina Kebihembo Rwabwogo who were simple peasants. None of his parents attended school; instead, they learned to read and write at church.
Sadly, Rwabwogo lost both his parents at an early age; father when he was 12 and his mother when he was 16 years of age. He completed his elementary education at Naama Primary School in 1982, earning his Primary Leaving Education Certificate.
He would later gain admission at Kako Secondary School for O’ Level.
Following two A’ Level exams at Mbarara High School in 1989 and 1990, Rwabwogo was accepted to Makerere University to study political science and economics from where he would later receive financial aid to attend Cardiff University in Wales, where he earned himself a master’s degree in media studies and journalism.
Rwabwogo is married to the President’s daughter, Pastor Patience Kokundeka with whom they got married on July 20, 2002.
With this background, it’s outrightly clear that he is a son in law to the head of state and as well, a brother in-law to the CDF of the Uganda Peoples Forces (UPDF).
The Genesis of the Political battle
When Mr. Rwabwogo contested for NRM Chairman for Western Uganda in 2015, he sent shock waves far beyond the immediate contest. He unsettled not only those in power, but also political actors with ambitions for the highest office in the land.
At some point, some senior Bush War fighters pushed H.E President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to stop him from continuing with his campaign meetings. Mr. Rwabwogo responded with the highest level of discipline, maturity and loyalty to the party and the President. He quietly retreated, but did not abandon the cause. Instead, he continued teaching NRM ideology & collective national values to citizens. That’s when some political actors began looking at him with fear, as A POTENTIAL PRESIDENTIAL MATERIAL. The blackmail & smear campaign followed, with the late Tamale Mirundi and others spreading harmful propaganda and character assassination.
Chairman Odrek Rwabwogo would occasionally come out to clear the air & debunk the allegations, before returning his focus to his work.
On 15th, August, 2021, President Museveni appointed Rwabwogo Senior Presidential Adviser on Special Duties. (SPA) In March 2022, the President officially launched the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID) under Rwabwogo’s leadership, reporting directly to the Presidency.
This background is important because it exposes the politics behind the attacks against him. Let it be clear. “Rwabwogo is not being fought because of his ideas alone; he is being fought because some political actors fear what he could become. “Recently, he spoke about reforms within the NRM, and those who thrive in chaos responded with insults and personal attacks. Yet reform is not rebellion & political ambition is not a crime.”
Rwabwogo is a Ugandan citizen with constitutional rights, individual interests like any other Ugandan, the right to participate in politics and aspire to any political office.
If his opponents disagree with his ideas, let them challenge his ideas. If they oppose his reforms, let them propose better reforms. If they question his leadership, let them present truthful facts.
Blackmail, propaganda & character assassination cannot substitute for political debate. The real question is whether the NRM can accommodate internal debate, generational renewal, institutional reform & legitimate political ambition without treating every emerging voice as a threat.
Those who fear Odrek Rwabwogo should not fear his name. They should challenge his ideas. Because in politics, you defeat a political opponent through better politics-not through fear, blackmail or character assassination. “Let the contest be about ideas, leadership and Uganda, not concocted lies and manufactured hatred!
The writer is an investigative Journalist, Keen to
the Law and CEO of the Spotlight Media Group.
