MISLEADING: Brig Gen Emmanuel Rwashande is a RETIRED UPDF officer and is allowed to take part in partisan Politics.

A claim shared by Kampala Journal X platform claims that a UPDF officer breaches UPDF Act 2005 to participate in partisan politics with a poster showing him wearing his uniform. This claim is MISLEADING. 

Posted on 10th March 2025, the claim first quotes Brig Gen Rwashande saying “If Muhoozi does it, why not me”.

“If Muhoozi does it why not me?,” says UPDF soldier as he breaches UPDF Act 2005 to participate in partisan politics with a poster showing him wearing his uniform.#KJNews pic.twitter.com/2QaA4ayVPe

— The Kampala Journal (@KampalaJournal) March 10, 2025

This message is outrightly false, there is no evidence to confirm that Rtd Brig Gen Rwashande said those words. Kampala Journal also does not quote any engagement, event, interview or public engagement where these words are spoken. In our fact check, we checked for all engagements, forums, interviews or social media of Brig Gen Rwashande and there is no public record of him saying that “If Muhoozi does it, why not me”

The other claim is that Brig Gen Rwashande is breaching the “UPDF Act to participate in Partisan politics with a poster showing him wearing his uniform” this too is misleading. For clarity, it is factual that the UPDF Act of 2005 deters an “active” UPDF to participate in partisan politics, this is according to the UPDF Act of 2005, section 99, article 208(2) which mandates “RESIGNATION or RETIREMENT from the military for soldiers seeking political office “ 

But just to note that this provision only works with officers who are still serving in the Ugandan People’s Defence Forces which is not the case with Brig Gen Rwashande who is now a retired UPDF officer.  

With Brig Gen Rwashande Emmanuel retired, he is legally allowed to vie for any elective position in Uganda since he is a retired military officer. I spoke to a lawyer & advocate of the High Court of Uganda, counsel Kato Tumusiime and here is what he had to say about this claim

“The law is very clear on that issue. If you check article 208 of the Ugandan Constitution, it prohibits any active Ugandan soldier from taking part in anything political, be it standing for any position of leadership. If they do this, it is done outside the law. The law says that an active soldier should first resign or even retire and then actively stand for office” – 

The Ugandan Court has also ruled on such a claim in the case of Capt Omara Yuventine who had won the Abim District Chairman Position prior to receiving his discharge letter in 2021. Despite his victory, the court deemed his participation in NRM Primaries and Local Council 5 elections illegal. 

There are other cases of retired UPDF officers who have stood for elective positions in Uganda after their retirement. Some include the president of Uganda Rtd Gen Yoweri Museveni who retired in 1996 and stood for presidency, Rtd Col Kiiza Besigye who has stood for Uganda’s presidency 4 times, the late Rtd Biraaro who stood for presidency in 2016, Rtd Gen Henry Tumukunde who stood for presidency in 2016. 

It is misleading to say that Brig Gen Emmanuel Rwashande is breaching the UPDF Act by taking part in partisan politics. He is a retired UPDF officer who is allowed to stand for any elective position in Uganda.