Uganda's Bobi Wine distances opposition party from planned protests

Ugandan opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has clarified his involvement in the planning of the protests set for tomorrow, titled #March2Parliament. 

The musician-turned-politician claimed that the state was dragging his party into the planning of the protest to weaken them and also make them appear to have a partisan agenda. 

"For the record, the 23rd of July #March 2 parliament protests are not organised by NUP," he said on his social media platforms. 

Why support protests? 

The opposition leader declared his support for the protest due to his strong belief in the power of the people fighting against injustice, corruption, and misrule. 

"The criminal regime and its antics will certainly fail!" Bobi Wine, who has been severally arrested and detained by the President Yoweri Museveni-led government, declared. 

Bobi Wine, 42, a pop star turned politician, has in recent years emerged as the biggest challenger to Museveni, 79, who has led the East African nation since 1986. 

Wine is also a staunch supporter of the Gen Z-led protest in Kenya, triggered by the government's plan to overtax its citizens. Ugandan youth draw aspirations from Kenyans who forced President William Ruto to withdraw the punitive Finance Bill 2024, which enshrined outrageous tax measures and also dismissed his entire Cabinet except for the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Musalia Mudavadi. 

Ruto, a close ally of Museveni, also outlined several austerity measures in a bid to reduce a bloating wage bill and pressure on taxpayers to finance the expensive and show-off lifestyle of his confidants.

President William Ruto hosts President Yoweri Museveni at State House Kenya on May 16, 2024. (Photo: X/StatehouseUg)

Bobi Wine's National Unity Platform Headquarters raided

Reuters also reported today that soldiers and police sealed off the headquarters of Uganda's biggest opposition party in what a police spokesperson called a precautionary move ahead of the anti-government protest planned for Tuesday, despite a ban. 

"These cowards have turned the National Unity Platform Headquarters into a military barracks. Several leaders have been violently arrested. They have now blocked the roads leading to the office, all because they are scared of the people. And yes, when we lose our fear of them, they will lose their power over us," Bobi Wine posted on his social media pages alongside photos of security officers outside the party premises.

Museveni earlier issued a stern warning against the planned protest in Kampala, saying, "You want to disturb us. You are playing with fire because we cannot allow you to demonstrate in Kampala and cause destruction to people who are selling on the roadside.

"Do not have such ideas in your head," he added.

On July 15, Uganda Police Force Spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke also issued a statement on the planned protest, saying they would not condone any attempts to incite violence or breach public order in the demonstration.

They further warned that mass occupation in the streets would result in significant disruption of public order. 

"Such a mass occupation of the streets from the police perspective would likely result in significant traffic congestion, disruption of trade, and disturbance to public order," read the police statement.

The spokesperson urged the protesters to conduct their protest in a peaceful manner.

Security officers seen outside Bobi Wine's National Unity Platform Headquarters on Monday, July 22, 2024. (Photo: Bobi Wine)