This archive report was first published on 3 September 2019.
On September 3, 2019, Ugandan state minister of finance Evelyn Anite found herself at the center of a heated debate over the future of Uganda Telecoms Ltd (UTL), a struggling telecom company.
However, the public's attention was diverted from the UTL controversy when Anite made a shocking claim: that her opponents planned to release her nude photos or videos, and even threatened to kill her.
Deputy Attorney General Mwesigwa Rukutana responded to Anite's allegations, stating that he knew how to treat women better than resorting to violence.
The public's reaction was telling, with many people topping up their phone data in anticipation of the alleged nude photos.
Meanwhile, a separate controversy surrounding a pregnant member of parliament dominated the headlines, with the public more interested in the MP's personal life than her performance in office.
These incidents highlight the growing gap between the powerful and the powerless in Uganda, where the traditional focus on poverty and wealth disparities has given way to a more pressing concern: the power dynamics at play in the country's politics and society.
