Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) Executive Director Hon. Nyombi Thembo has said the ongoing case involving Dean Lubowa Saava is strictly a matter of law and not retaliation for personal or online attacks, calling for a clear distinction between institutional accountability and personal relationships.
In a statement issued after meeting Saava’s family, Nyombi said the engagement was difficult but necessary, describing it as a moment marked by empathy rather than confrontation. “They came not as lawyers, activists, or social media commentators, but as a family bearing the quiet weight of a situation that has lingered far longer than such moments should,” he said.
Nyombi revealed that he has known Saava since 1995 and acknowledged that they share a long-standing acquaintance, even friendship. However, he stressed that personal history cannot override the law. “While that history is significant, it cannot replace or alter the law,” he said.
He dismissed claims that the case was driven by a personal vendetta linked to online criticism. “Many have attempted to frame Saava’s case as retaliation for online attacks against me, but that narrative is false,” Nyombi stated. “In public life, criticism, even harsh criticism, comes with the territory. If personal attacks were sufficient grounds for imprisonment, our prisons would be overflowing.”
According to Nyombi, once a matter enters the criminal justice system, it must follow due process. “This case is about the law, nothing more, nothing less,” he said. “Once a matter enters the criminal justice system, it cannot be resolved through goodwill or forgiveness alone. The courts must take their course.”
He cautioned leaders and institutions against personalising legal processes, noting that such boundaries, though painful, are essential. “Regulators must respect that process, and leaders must resist the temptation to personalise institutions,” he said.
Beyond the legal discussion, Nyombi said what struck him most was the human cost of the situation. “A family under strain, children missing important school moments, and a home feeling the absence of its head — these are the quiet consequences that rarely trend online, yet they hold the highest cost,” he observed.
As the festive season approaches, Nyombi said he felt compelled to act on humanitarian grounds. “In my personal capacity, not as a regulator, I prepared a Christmas package for the family,” he said, emphasising that the gesture was not an attempt to influence the case. “This was not a statement on the case or an act of interference, but a simple, human show of compassion.”
He underscored that enforcing the law does not preclude empathy. “It is possible to enforce the law firmly while still acting with kindness. It is possible to support institutions and recognise pain simultaneously,” Nyombi said.
Looking ahead, he expressed openness to reconciliation once the legal process concludes. “Accountability should never close the door to reform or growth,” he said.
Nyombi concluded by urging leaders to remember the human dimension behind legal cases. “This situation serves as a reminder that laws exist for a reason, that digital platforms bear real responsibility, and that behind every case file are real people, families, children and futures,” he said. “As leaders, our duty is to protect the public interest while maintaining our humanity.”
