By Our Reporter,
KAMPALA
Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, has strongly denied allegations linking him to an extramarital affair with socialite Sheila Gashumba. Tayebwa clarified that he has never met Gashumba and dismissed the claims as baseless and defamatory.
The allegations originated from a viral video shared by Canadian-based blogger Senga Acid, who claimed the Deputy Speaker was romantically involved with the well-known Ugandan celebrity. The video, which has since gained traction on various social media platforms, prompted Tayebwa to address the matter during a parliamentary session.
“I saw a lady in a video accusing me of having an affair with a celebrity in town. She presented it as breaking news and appeared quite serious. However, I later discovered she’s hiding in Canada,” Tayebwa told Parliament.
Tayebwa revealed that his wife was the first to bring the video to his attention after encountering it on TikTok. He reiterated that the blogger’s claims were completely false.
“My wife sent me the video. This individual, Senga Acid, is in Canada, speaking with authority about someone she has never met, whose number I don’t even have,” Tayebwa said.
The Deputy Speaker further disclosed that Senga Acid has a history of making unsubstantiated accusations against public figures, including other Members of Parliament.
Tayebwa speculated that the blogger’s motive is to generate sensational content for TikTok, where creators are rewarded for high levels of engagement. “With TikTok now paying for content, people are desperate for attention. This woman, Senga Acid, attacks individuals in Luganda, yet she’s actually a Mukiga from Kabale,” he noted.
The Deputy Speaker expressed his intention to work with law enforcement to ensure the blogger is held accountable for defamation.
“She has no right to tarnish people’s reputations for personal gain. I will engage the relevant authorities to address this issue,” Tayebwa stated.
Sheila Gashumba has not yet commented on the allegations, and efforts to reach her for a statement were unsuccessful.
