She was defamed and, for months, character-assassinated by TikTok bully Dean Lubowa Saava but Deputy IGG Ann T Muhairwe on Thursday had the last laugh inside the Makindye chief magistrates court.
Those days convinced he was the most powerful communicator in Kampala, Saava relentlessly attacked Ms Muhairwe and deceptively accused her of things she hadn’t done. He depicted her as this corrupt abuser of public office, who was unfit to be re-appointed as Deputy Inspector General of Government.
He claimed he had irrefutable evidence to prove his case but unable to do so when brought before the magistrate, who was ready to give him the microphone and platform to make his case.
In the end, Muhairwe brought up a case of criminal defamation against Saava and upon being brought before the Makindye chief magistrates court, Saava started breaking down saying he was sorry. He sent messengers to Muhairwe, the complainant, claiming that he was sorry for what he did and wanted to be forgiven.
He told prosecutors from the DPP’s office who were working on the case for the prosecution and on behalf of the complainant, that he regrets he had been used by people with money who simply wanted to destroy Muhairwe’s good name and reputation in order to bias the president not to re-appoint her.
After being in Luzira for more than 100 days, Saava said he was ready to reveal all the people who were giving him the information and the assignment to destroy Muhairwe. That their objective was to make her look so bad in order to prevent the president from re-appointing her.
The contract of Muhairwe, fellow Deputy IGG Dr. Patricia Acan Okiria and that of their then boss Beti Kamya were expiring in September and were all eligible for reappointment. So, the actors behind Saava’s defamatory videos targeted Muhairwe for destruction so that the president concludes that she is too scandalous for reappointment.
Indeed, the attacks by Saava started days after the president had publicly praised Muhairwe as incorruptible, patriotic and hardworking during the private birthday party for his wife Janet at the UWESO school in Migera in Nakasongola.
Museveni, who barely had three months to appoint the new leadership at the IG, said that if he had 100 Muhairwes, the war against corruption in Uganda would have been won long time ago.
This signaling was seized upon by some powerful rich people in society, who were uncomfortable having the incorruptible Muhairwe reappointed. There had even been rumors that she stood a chance to be elevated to the position of full IGG.
Saava, who had distinguished himself as this eloquent fearless TikToker, was unleashed with what he kept claiming was irrefutable evidence of wrongdoing on Muhairwe’s part. As always, he took no prisoners. He relentlessly targeted her in his each and every video and this went on for months.
Not one to be cowed, Muhairwe vigorously fought back. She got lawyers who filed a still ongoing civil defamation suit against Saava on top of filing a criminal complaint with Police.
She never leveraged her clout as Deputy IGG but duly sought protection through legally available procedures against her tormentor who this Thursday bowed himself in total shame inside the Makindye magistrates court and accepted guilt. The magistrate accordingly convicted him on his own plea.
Saava had now realized that he had no admissible evidence to corroborate any of the defamatory stuff he had uttered about Muhairwe. Gratefully, the Deputy IGG accepted to forgive him for the sake of his wives and children who have been suffering in his absence since August last year when he was first locked up at Luzira.
Upon walking to freedom, Saava will have to issue a public apology to Muhairwe besides deleting all the defamatory videos on his social media platforms. He has also promised to reform, engage in responsible journalism and to never engage in demonization campaigns against innocent people.
A triumphant and magnanimous Ann Muhairwe, who acted as a mother and accepted to unconditionally forgive Saava, this Thursday morning addressed media reporters at the Makindye court and declared as follows:
VERBATTIM:
The accused decided to plead guilty, admitting that the statements made against me were not only false but were made with malicious intent, designed to cause unjust harm to my character and reputation. This is a powerful affirmation that the truth, no matter how fiercely it is attacked, will eventually come to light.
What is the saddest part is to get to know those who were paying for the defamation.
The legal process has run its course, and the truth has been validated by a court of law. It has been a taxing ordeal, but justice has prevailed.
I feel a deep sense of responsibility to the citizens to set the record straight.
I felt the weight of being a public servant whose integrity was being publicly shredded by falsehoods. It would have been easier to stay silent, to hope the storm would pass. But silence in the face of defamation is not dignity; it is a disservice to the nation.
To my colleagues in government, to public servants at every level who are doing their work with honour and integrity: do not shy away from defending yourselves.
There is a mistaken belief that by virtue of holding public office, we must simply absorb any and all attacks on our person. Some say we should have “thick skin” or that “the noise comes with the territory.” I am here to tell you that is a dangerous fallacy.
Defending yourself against defamation is not an abuse of office. It is not an attempt to silence criticism. It is an assertion of your fundamental human right to a reputation, a right that does not disappear the moment you take an oath of office. When you allow lies to be spread about you without challenge, you do not protect the government—you undermine the very institutions you serve.
To those who are being targeted by falsehoods designed to break your spirit and discredit your work, I say this: stand your ground. Have faith in the legal system. Gather your evidence, and fight back. Your silence emboldens those who seek to destroy you and weakens the public’s trust in the offices we hold.
If we allow dishonesty to become the currency of public discourse, we all lose.
My focus now returns fully to the work of the Inspectorate of Government. The fight against corruption and for accountability continues, and I am more committed to it now more than ever. Thank you.
