At the 2025 National Prayer Breakfast, the President recalls divine voice that changed a man’s fate
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has revealed that he once heard a divine voice stopping him from signing the death sentence of former minister Chris Rwakasisi — a man who was once his political enemy.
Speaking during the National Prayer Breakfast 2025 at State House Entebbe, which ran under the theme “The Power of Forgiveness and Reconciliation”, Museveni narrated how he prayed about Rwakasisi’s case years ago and felt a strong inner voice telling him not to approve his execution.
“I went to the small old office of the president here at State House,” Museveni said.
“I prayed and asked God, ‘In this case of Chris, is it really true that he killed these people and should be hanged, or could they have made mistakes?’ Then a voice — I don’t know what to call it — but it was inside me and told me, ‘Uh-uh, don’t sign that instrument.’”
According to Museveni, that moment changed the course of Rwakasisi’s life. “That’s why up to now, we keep him,” the President added. “I think blending Christianity and the modern law is very important.”
Who is Chris Rwakasisi?
Chris Rwakasisi was a powerful figure in President Milton Obote’s second government between 1980 and 1985. He served as Minister of State for Security and was one of Obote’s most trusted aides.
After the fall of Obote’s regime in July 1985, Rwakasisi was arrested and later convicted of capital offences related to killings that allegedly took place during his time in office. He spent 24 years in prison, much of it on death row, before receiving a presidential pardon from Museveni in 2009.
His release was seen as a rare act of reconciliation between former political rivals — the man who once hunted Museveni’s National Resistance Army fighters, and the man who later became Uganda’s longest-serving President.
“I was angry at God and Museveni”
During the same Prayer Breakfast, Rwakasisi gave a moving testimony about his time in prison and his journey of forgiveness.
“In my life, there were two people I was angry at — God and Museveni,” he said.
“I felt that God had forgotten me, and Museveni always said I killed his children. But I used to ask myself, ‘Which children of Museveni did I kill?’ because I could see Natasha, I could see Kainerugaba. I was really confused.”
Rwakasisi went on to share how he eventually forgave and reconciled with Museveni, saying that divine grace helped him overcome bitterness.
A moment of reflection
The National Prayer Breakfast, attended by First Lady Janet Museveni, religious leaders, and dignitaries, turned emotional as both men — once bitter enemies — shared their stories of faith and forgiveness.
The event served as a reminder of how personal conviction and divine intervention shaped one of Uganda’s most symbolic acts of mercy.
“Forgiveness is not weakness,” Museveni concluded. “It is strength guided by God.”
