Fresh claims have emerged alleging that the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID) is pursuing an economic strategy that could eventually translate into political influence, including the financing of a possible presidential bid.
The allegations, contained in confidential information circulating publicly, claim that PACEID’s stated ambition of helping Uganda achieve a US$500 billion economy is not the organisation’s ultimate objective. Instead, the claims suggest that the committee’s activities are aimed at building extensive economic resources, networks and influence that could later be converted into political power.
According to the information, the strategy involves gaining influence across key sectors of Uganda’s economy, including coffee, dairy, agriculture, exports, processing, financing and industrial development.
The allegations further claim that these sectors were deliberately selected because agriculture and related value chains connect directly with millions of Ugandans while generating significant commercial relationships, capital and networks.
However, the claims have not been independently verified, and there is no publicly available evidence establishing that PACEID was created to finance a presidential campaign or secretly pursue political control.
PACEID was established by President Yoweri Museveni in 2022 as an advisory body focusing on exports and industrial development. It is chaired by businessman Odrek Rwabwogo, and its publicly stated programmes have focused on increasing Uganda’s production, expanding exports, developing value chains and supporting industrialisation.
The confidential claims nevertheless frame PACEID’s economic activities as part of a broader contest for influence within Uganda’s political and economic system.
One allegation is that economic power could provide an alternative source of influence to control over the security establishment. The information specifically references the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), which is commanded by Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
The claims suggest that if political actors cannot directly control the military, they could instead seek influence over the economic systems that provide employment, investment, production, trade and revenue across the country.
This interpretation remains an allegation rather than an established fact.
The information also alleges that individuals aligned with the purported strategy have been positioned in different economic sectors, including agriculture, coffee, dairy, exports and industrial processing.
It claims that control or significant influence over these sectors could create extensive relationships with farmers, businesses, exporters, investors and local communities. Over time, according to the allegations, those networks could potentially become a source of political mobilisation.
The confidential information describes the alleged strategy in three stages: the economy would provide the foundation, financial resources would provide the funding, and networks built through economic activity would provide the machinery for political influence.
It ultimately claims that the presidency would be the intended objective.
No evidence has been presented publicly to demonstrate that PACEID or its leadership has adopted such a political strategy. There is also no confirmed indication that the committee is preparing to finance a presidential campaign.
The allegations come at a politically sensitive moment following recent criticism of PACEID by Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who has accused the organisation of being illegal and threatened action against officials he alleges are involved in corruption. He has also warned media houses against hosting members of the committee.
The latest allegations are therefore likely to intensify public scrutiny of PACEID, particularly concerning its mandate, funding, membership and relationships with government institutions.
For now, however, the claims remain unverified. Neither PACEID nor its chairman, Odrek Rwabwogo, has publicly confirmed the alleged political strategy, while no competent authority has publicly established that the organisation is being used to build a financial or political war chest for a presidential bid.
Further information would need to be independently verified before the allegations can be treated as fact.
