A politician loyal to opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye and the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party has come out to strike Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, the National Unity Platform (NUP) leader and 2021 presidential candidate.
Mubarak Munyagwa, the former Kawempe South MP who was ousted by NUP candidate Bashir Kazibwe Mbaziira in the 2021 parliamentary polls, has been vocal in criticizing the main opposition party and its leader Bobi Wine, the singer-turned-politician.
Until 2017, Bobi Wine was largely known for his music, some of which was peppered with political and civic undertones. But he rode on the Kyadondo East parliamentary byelection win to start a political movement that catapulted him to the top echelon of the opposition in Uganda.
He came second in the 2021 presidential election, coming only second to President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni. His NUP party also emerged as the main opposition party, eclipsing the FDC after gaining more parliamentary seats, most of them from Bobi Wine’s home sub-region of Buganda.
But Munyagwa says that Bobi Wine was overrated and that he should stop thinking that he can handle Museveni’s NRM without working with the experienced FDC. He also warned that most of the NUP MPs were just interested in Bobi Wine singing on their songs and may not necessarily be involved in the struggle.
“Hon. Bobi Wine is overrated. Bobi Wine is famous in Buganda and Jinja. NUP has to know where it is strong, and it shouldn’t antagonize where FDC is strong. NUP needs to communicate with FDC. [Simon Akecha] Toolit has won on the FDC ticket two times [in Omoro]. This time around, he confused the voters and gave NRM an advantage. Bobi Wine is overrated to think that he can overwhelm NRM,” said Munyagwa.
“I told Bobi Wine that these MPs he trusts only wanted him because he is a musician. His appearance at their rallies helped them cut costs of paying musicians.”
This is not the first time that Munyagwa is attacking NUP and its leader Bobi Wine. A few months ago, Munyagwa claimed that a number of Bobi Wine’s NUP MPs were swimming in money allegedly given to them by Museveni and his NRM. But Bobi Wine’s camp fired back at Munyagwa telling him he is just jobless and desperate after NUP Bashir Kazibwe defeated him in the 2021 parliamentary elections. (Read Story Here).
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