Hajj Abdul Nadduli, a senior presidential advisor and respected elder in Uganda, has delivered a strong message to President Yoweri Museveni, apologies without action are meaningless.
In a bold and emotional statement, Nadduli criticized the president’s recent apology to the Ugandan people, warning that saying sorry is not enough to heal years of suffering unless it is followed by real and visible change.
Last week, President Museveni, joined by his wife Janet, made a public appeal for forgiveness. During a national address, the president expressed regret for the mistakes and hardships caused by his government. “On behalf of the government, we ask for your forgiveness,” Museveni said. “We may have made mistakes. We are sorry.” The First Lady echoed this sentiment, saying, “If our leadership has ever hurt you in any way, we ask you to forgive us.”
While some Ugandans welcomed the apology and saw it as a positive step forward, others, including Hajj Nadduli were not convinced. In a heartfelt interview, Nadduli argued that words are not enough, especially when people across the country continue to face deep challenges every day. “Repentance without action is dead,” he said firmly. “When someone truly repents, they must show it through their actions. People are tired of words they want real change.”
Nadduli, a former minister and a long-time leader in the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), stressed that President Museveni must go beyond speaking and begin solving real problems that affect ordinary Ugandans.
He pointed out that the country is still struggling with poor healthcare, broken roads, high unemployment, and widespread corruption. “Ugandans want better hospitals, good roads, jobs for their children, and an end to corruption,” he explained. “They don’t want only words. They want action.”
Across Uganda, the apology has sparked debate. Some citizens have accepted the president’s message, hoping it signals a new direction. However, many remain skeptical. In Kampala, one boda boda rider summed up the frustration: “We have suffered for years. If they are truly sorry, they must fix things. We want change, not just talk.” A woman selling vegetables added, “They say sorry, but life is still hard. We want school fees to go down and hospitals to have medicine.”
Opposition leaders have also weighed in, saying that an apology means nothing if the government does not change how it serves the people. They have called on the president to take immediate and practical steps to address poverty, improve public services, and fight corruption.
Nadduli ended his message with a powerful warning. He said that the people of Uganda will continue to lose trust in the government if no action follows the apology. “Let us not joke with people’s pain,” he said. “We must lead with honesty, action, and results.”
His message is clear, the time for talk is over. Ugandans are watching, and they want to see real change not just hear more promises.
