Former military intelligence chief, Maj Gen Abel Kandiho has indicated he intends to sue Independent Magazine, owned by Andrew Mwenda for defamation.
In a July, 31 intention to sue, Gen Kandiho through his lawyers of Tem Advocates and Solicitors says the Independent Magazine on July, 21 and 28, 2026 published and shared on social media platforms, a two-part exposé titled “State House and Security Agencies Under Siege” and “The President’s Man” in which they profiled one Stephen Nuwagaba as a serial fraudster who fabricated his military and intelligence credentials to extort and blackmail senior public officials.
The former CMI boss says in the articles, Nuwagaba was described as a crook and later, they linked Gen Kandiho to him by indicating that the former intelligence chief introduced him to President Museveni and vouched for his technical and intelligence capabilities.
“Your publication exposed Nuwagaba as a fraud yet simultaneously told readers that our client vouched for him and personally introduced him to the President. In their ordinary meaning, these words falsely implied that our client is a compromised security official who abused his high office and proximity to power to mislead the President of the Republic of Uganda,” Gen Kandiho says in his intention to sue.
Gen Kandiho says the articles suggested he knowingly conspired with an alleged criminal to compromise national security systems, claims his lawyers describe as malicious and published without giving their client an opportunity to comment or verify the allegations.
“These fabrications were published with express malice and without any attempt whatsoever to seek our client’s comment or verify the facts. This continuous character assassination has caused severe, irreversible damage to our client’s distinguished military, diplomatic, and public service reputation, exposing him to public ridicule, suspicion, and contempt,” the lawyers say.
Demands
They have given the Independent Magazine seven days to delete both articles from its website, digital archives and social media platforms and apologise.
“We demand you publish an unconditional retraction and apology to Maj Gen Abel Kandiho, with prominence equal to the original publications on your homepage, on the front page of your next print edition, and across all social media handles where the articles appeared.”
The lawyers also demand shs1billion in compensatory damages and Shs50 million in legal costs.
The former military intelligence chief says these demands should be met in seven days or else legal proceedings will follow.
