Deputy Speaker Tayebwa Defends Nurses' Leadership Capabilities Amidst Misinformation

Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa has moved to clear the air regarding his recent statements concerning nurses, affirming their significant professional competence and academic achievements. Tayebwa’s comments, made during a parliamentary sitting on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, aimed to highlight that nurses are highly qualified professionals, capable of attaining doctoral degrees and holding substantial leadership roles.

His intervention came in the wake of concerns raised by the Leader of Opposition regarding a nurse leading the Pharmacy Department at Mbarara University of Science and Technology. Tayebwa sought to challenge the outdated perception that a nursing background inherently disqualifies individuals from leadership positions, asserting that their qualifications and abilities warrant recognition.

Tayebwa explained that a video circulating on social media, purportedly edited by journalist Paul Ssebaduka, had distorted his message. He stated that segments where he praised nurses and acknowledged their academic accomplishments were removed, creating a false narrative that he was demeaning the profession. This edited footage, he noted, led to widespread public criticism and abuse directed at him and his family.

Describing the manipulation as deliberate blackmail, Tayebwa informed the House on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, that he has engaged the Uganda Communications Commission to investigate the matter. He also called for a public apology from the journalist responsible for the misleading video.

This clarification serves to reaffirm the Deputy Speaker’s respect for nurses and their crucial roles within the healthcare system and beyond. Tayebwa stressed that nurses possess advanced qualifications, including PhDs, and should not be underestimated in their capacity for leadership.

Source: Parliament of Uganda