His latest tour in Luweero has courted controversy, with some saying the NUP leader was being tribalistic and spreading hate speech.
While addressing residents in Luweero, Kyagulanyi said that Uganda is currently under the rule of a small group, that is to say, Museveni, his family, and cronies.
“Uganda is being ruled by a group of small people who are controlling everything. These are the people who have enslaved us on our own land. I need to tell you these things because I am taking on the responsibility to make you people aware of the truth. What is sad is that the Museveni regime is using fellow Baganda to oppress the Baganda,” he told Luweero residents, who were seemingly elated.
Kyagulanyi also urged the people of Luweero and Buganda to stand up and fight for the land of their ancestors.
“Fellow Baganda, who bewitched us? Museveni thinks he is going to build a dynasty on the land of our ancestors in Buganda. Over my dead body, that will not happen,” he told the people.
He made several allegations against the Government of Uganda, such as some of its officials conniving with big Chinese companies to chase people (Baganda) off Lake Victoria. He also attacked President Museveni, who he said is attempting to install his son Muhoozi Kainerugaba as President of Uganda.
Government and NRM officials react
Richard Todwong, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) secretary-general, has come out to condemn Kyagulanyi’s comments, saying they are tribalistic and full of hate. He said tribal politics can not work in Uganda.
“When a mad man removes your clothes when you are showering, the best thing is not to run after him. He will drop the clothes, and people will bring them to you because such mad people don’t understand what they are playing with,” he said.
He added: “The NRM stands above such petty tribalistic politics, and that is why the party is solid on the ground.”
Other government officials, such as government spokesperson Ofwono Opondo, State Minister for Kampala Kabuye Kyofatogabye, and Kampala Resident City Commissioner Hudu Hussien, among other government sympathisers, have since condemned Kyagulanyi, saying he is full of hate, which is not good in a leader.
“We must desist from reckless and nonsensical speeches that promote hatred. Among Ugandans. Some people learned and forgot nothing from our history! The contemporary world cannot accommodate such speeches,” Kyofatogabye said.
Opposition leaders and analysts react
Some opposition leaders have refuted allegations that Kyagulanyi’s speech was full of hate and inspired tribalism among Ugandans.
The NUP spokesperson and Nakawa West Constituency Member of Parliament, Joel Ssenyonyi, refuted the allegations, saying that Kyagulanyi was only addressing the real issues affecting Ugandans.
“Wherever we have been, people have different issues that are affecting them. In fact, when we were in Mbarara, we told them, Look, you are in power,’ but they told us that it was not true that they were in power. The people there are struggling, and we told them that it is incumbent on them to join the struggle for change,” he said.
The Kampala deputy lord mayor, Doreen Nyanjura, also told this website that the opposition is only trying to raise issues that affect Ugandans.
“People have been oppressed long enough, and they feel change must happen,” she said.
Godwin Toko, a human rights lawyer and political analyst, said that Bobi Wine’s political tactics are not new in Uganda since the current President [Museveni] also used them back then before ascending to power.
Let’s face it: By appealing to ethnic sentiments of the Baganda against the regime, Bobi Wine sounds so like Museveni did in his speeches made in 1980s and 2000s. The only difference is that the villains in Museveni’s speeches were Acholi, Lango, and West Nilers. That tactic brought Museveni to power and helped him consolidate his presidency in the 1990s. Bobi Wine’s politics is mainly a copy and paste of Museveni’s; for someone who was a toddler in 1986, perhaps that’s not surprising. Museveni redefined national politics: Bobi is playing along,” he said.
He added: “Museveni’s presidency has, by and large, been built around the very things he claims to detest most: Ethnicity and religious sectarianism. Since 2005, he’s been gaslighting everyone else opposed to him into shunning these two, and they all did. Opposition parties are always Trying to prove how they’re “national” and not “ethnic”. Yet, Museveni’s regime remains one of the most tribal, if not the most tribal, in Uganda’s short history. But I don’t blame Museveni either. The reality is, in a nation without classes based on wealth or beliefs, a nation where leaders cross from one party to another and act like they simply switched seats on a bus, the temptation to mobilise people based on ethnicity or religion, the most definitive groupings, is always high.”
Police reacts
Police has said Kyagulanyi is going to be investigated for making such comments publicly.
“Such comments normally attract the attention of any investigative body. Once the fact are gathered and analysed by our teams, the opinion of the DPP will be sought to guide on any further action,” Director of CID, Tom Magambo, said.