KAMPALA, Uganda | The Daily Monitor, Uganda’s leading daily newspaper, has formally apologized to Attorney General Hon. Kiryowa Kiwanuka SC after publishing an article based on allegations made by Isaac Ssemakadde, the President of the Uganda Law Society (ULS), without independent verification.

The controversy arose after Ssemakadde authored a letter to President Yoweri Museveni in January 2025, accusing Hon. Kiwanuka of corruption, abuse of office, and manipulation of judicial processes. Among other claims, Ssemakadde alleged that Kiwanuka had misused public funds during the 2024 Uganda Law Society elections and orchestrated irregularities in the handling of properties under the Departed Asians Property Custodian Board (DAPCB).

On February 2, 2025, The Daily Monitor published a story highlighting these allegations. However, following internal review, the newspaper admitted that it had not independently verified the claims before publication. In a public statement issued by its editor on April 26, 2025, The Daily Monitor said:

“We failed to thoroughly verify the allegations contained in the letter before publication. We apologize for any harm caused to the reputation of Hon. Kiryowa Kiwanuka SC and retract the article in its entirety.”

Sources close to the Attorney General indicated that Hon. Kiwanuka was bitter with the article published by the Daily Monitor without verification from his office.

The apology has, however, not been universally welcomed. Critics of the Attorney General, many of whom had viewed the original story as shedding much-needed light on alleged misconduct, have expressed disappointment with The Daily Monitor’s decision to retract the article. Some argue that by apologizing, the newspaper risks weakening its role as a platform for public scrutiny.

Critics argue that it is not the job of the media to shy away from uncomfortable truths simply because they are politically sensitive. They further argue that The Daily Monitor should have defended its reporting or, at the very least, stood by the public interest in raising concerns about the conduct of top officials.

For its part, The Daily Monitor reaffirmed its commitment to journalistic integrity, saying it would strengthen its editorial processes to ensure greater diligence in future reporting, particularly on matters of significant public interest.