Ugandan academic and activist Dr. Stella Nyanzi has launched a scathing public attack on fellow dissident Kakwenza Rukirabashaija, accusing him of abandoning his wife and children in Germany while pursuing personal interests abroad.
In a fiery open letter shared widely online, Nyanzi—a fierce critic of Uganda’s government—condemned Kakwenza’s alleged neglect of his family, framing it as hypocrisy for a man hailed as a “freedom fighter” against President Yoweri Museveni’s regime.
Nyanzi’s letter claims Kakwenza left his wife and three children in Germany 13 months after his scholarship ended, leaving them in a “scholarship-house” in an expensive city despite their refugee status. She alleges he prioritized academic pursuits, relocating to study law elsewhere, and later “chasing skirts” across England, the U.S., and Zambia.
Nyanzi further accuses him of living with a woman in England while another partner resides in Boston, and notes he is pursuing a divorce from his “church wife” in Ugandan courts.
“A lawyer with postgraduate qualifications… has abandoned his son of four years, daughters of six and eleven years, and his doting church wife,” Nyanzi wrote. “A victim of state violence… has abused his responsibilities as a father to three young refugee children because he now hates their mother.”
Kakwenza, a satirical novelist and outspoken Museveni critic, fled Uganda in 2022 after alleging torture by security forces. He was granted asylum in Germany, where his family reportedly joined him. Nyanzi, who also faced imprisonment for her activism, has long emphasized the moral obligations of dissidents, often contrasting her sacrifices with peers’ choices.
Apparently, this letter pointed out the tensions within Uganda’s exiled activist community. Their personal struggles for survival abroad sometimes clash with cultural expectations of family duty. Nyanzi framed Kakwenza’s alleged actions as a betrayal:
“We cannot publicly fight for freedom… and simultaneously abuse our own flesh and blood privately.”
While Kakwenza has yet to publicly respond, the allegations have ignited debate. Supporters argue that exiled activists face immense pressure, and family dynamics are private matters.
Critics, however, side with Nyanzi’s demand for accountability, particularly given Kakwenza’s advocacy for human rights.
Nyanzi’s decision to air grievances publicly—a tactic she’s used against political foes—risks fracturing solidarity among anti-Museveni voices.
