Newscast Media KAMPALA,
Uganda—The
stakes are high. The lines have been drawn. Uganda's Kyagulanyi Sentamu
Robert, fondly known as Bobi Wine, with his indefatigable determination,
has cast the die with the intent of unseating incumbent President Yoweri
Museveni.
No
one could have imagined that this musician by profession would embark on
such an undertaking in a police state like Uganda, whose security organs
have earned a reputation of oppressing their own citizens who challenge
the ruling party. Indeed Kyagulanyi
has put his life on the line, and was
almost killed in August 2018
while visiting the northern town of Arua, after having been assaulted by
Uganda's security forces.
There
were several obstacles Bobi Wine had to overcome after he declared his presidential
bid on July 24, 2020. "On behalf of the people of Uganda, I am challenging
you to free and fair elections," Kyagulani stated, referring to the
current president, who has been in power since 1986.
"President
Museveni and his praise singers dismissed us as inconsequential. The people
pf Uganda continue to prove them wrong," Bobi Wine said.
At
the time, he did not have a political party but was the leader of the "People
Power" movement. This is a grassroots movement, the majority of which
is made up of youth from different walks of life. Some are from the ghetto,
slums, villages—and city dwellers are also included in it. The greatest
dissatisfaction Ugandans have is the youth unemployment which is one of
the highest in the world.
Currently
Bobi Wine is on the campaign trail in northern Uganda and he said he was
struck by the poverty level in Karamoja, which is one of the richest parts
of Uganda in terms of minerals such as gold and marble. According to the
US Department of Justice, children from the Karamoja region are trafficked and also migrate to Kampala where they engage in begging, street
vending, domestic work, and commercial sexual exploitation.
Despite
the poverty they are facing, the great reception Bobi Wine received in Lira
on November 12, 2020,
is perhaps the greatest gathering of people in the north seeking change, since the formation
of the failed British experiment called Uganda. Not even live bullets or
tear gas could disperse the crowd.
Hundreds
of thousands of people in Lira welcome Bobi Wine as they chant his name
On
July 22, 2020, when Bobi Wine launched his political party called the National
Unity Platform NUP, he
became a serious contender
and Museveni's biggest threat. Museveni had never faced a true opposition movement
since 1986. The Democartic Party DP, Uganda People's Congress UPC, Forum
for Democratic Change FDC and other smaller parties were simply proxies
for the the state, to give the false impression that Museveni had an opposition.
Enter
Kyagulanyi, July 2020. He faced intimidation and was even taken to court,
on the premise that his NUP party was illegally acquired. One politician
went as far as stating the party's color "red" infringed on another
party's copyrights. Absurd! The US Republican Party's color is Red, should
one say that Republicans are violating copyrights because they use red?
However,
Museveni was not done with Kyagulanyi yet. On October 14, 2020 state operatives
raided Bobi Wine's party headquarters. Wine was lucky to escape because
he had "spotters" who tipped him off while he was meeting his
fellow youth. He famously said, "Nze kati nebwentema," meaning,
"I think I can now vamoose."
A
week later, on October 21, 2020, Bobi Wine enjoyed a court victory from
the lawsuit that accused him of illegally acquiring the National Unity Platform.
In his ruling, Justice Musa Sekaana dismissed the suit against Bobi Wine,
including costs, and said,"This court declines to entertain the application since it was not brought under any known procedure and secondly it was made to avoid the time limit of 3 months within which an application for judicial review should have been brought.
The judicial review guidelines or rules equally provide for locus stand and this would have been the threshold before the applicants would seek to challenge actions of a party. It is an abuse of court process.”
On
November 3, 2020, Bobi Wine was formally nomitated as the flagbearer of
NUP party, and challenger to Museveni's regime. Shortly after his nomination,
he once again was
arrested by state operatives,
and was beaten in front of his wife, for challenging Museveni.
Robert
Kyagulanyi being beaten in front of his wife--Courtesy photo: Facebook
The
act of beating a man in front of his wife was taken from the playbook of
slavery. Here, male Black slaves were stripped and flogged before their
wives, sisters and daughters. The psychological impact that it has
had on Black families in America is that the majority of Black American
women secretly hate and despise Black men, because slavery portrayed the
men as deplorable. This has resulted into an epidemic of broken homes
in Black communities. Some have referred to this condition as Post
Traumatic Slave Syndrome.
Black
men being publicly beaten in front of their wives, sisters and daughters
to psychologically instill resentment of Black women toward Black men.
Flogging the Negro; from an abolitionist book which gives a detailed description of the scene illustrated here ( pp. 206-8). The public whipping took place in Lexington, Missouri in Feb. 1856. This illustration appears to be a composite of several illustrations that appear earlier in Henry Bibb, Narrative of the Life and Adventures of . . . an American Slave (New York, 1849), pp. 106, 133.
Covering the campaign trail live, are the following media outlets:
On
November 7, 2020, Bobi Wine launched his manifesto in Mbarara, a city in
western Uganda and announced that his campaign trail would commence from
the city of Arua which was the birthplace of the People Power movement.
You may
download Bobi Wine's entire manifesto here:
Wine has since traversed the northern region as follows:
Nov
10, 2020:
journey to Arua
began via Pacwach
and Nebbi.
Wine entered Arua in a heavy downpour of rain, which symbolized to them
blessings from above.
Nov
11, 2020:
Bobi Wine and company entered Kitgum
at 3:00 am, then proceeded to Pader
and
ended in Gulu.
Nov.
12, 2020:
Wine left for Kamdini,
Oyam, Apac,
then the famous reception of the people of Lira
occurred.
Nov.
13, 2020:
Kyagulanyi headed to Kaabong
in
Karamoja, Kotido
and Moroto,
where Bobi Wine and crew were under siege by police. These townships
are in the nation-state called Karamoja.
Nov.
14, 2020:
Kyagulanyi disembarked from the vehicle and jogged through Amuria
town,
went to Soroti
and addressed a mammoth crowd, which is in the nation-state of Teso.
Nov.
15 2020:
Mr and Mrs. Wine started the day in prayer at St.
Patrick Madera Catholic Church in Soroti.
Wine headed for Kumi,
Sironko(where
he was blocked from addressing his people), and entered Mbale
town where police teargassed him for giving Ugandans hope.
============CAMPAIGN
TRAIL UPDATE===========
Nov.
16, 2020:Bobi
Wine campaignedin
Mayuge,
then under heavy police intimidation, Wine and staff entered Iganga
in
Busoga.
The last rally of the day was in Bugiri.
Nov.
17, 2020:The Wine train
will campaign in Butalejja, Tororo, then Busia.
Nov.
23, 2020: Bobi Wine campaigned
in Kyegegwa, Kyejojono and Fort Portal in the Tooro sub-region
Nov.
24, 2020:The campaign trail
commenced to Bundibugyo, Bunyangabo and Kasese district.
Nov.
25, 2020: The People Power
campaign was taken to Kigadi, Kibaale and eventaully Hoima
City. In Hoima, Kyagulanyi's hotel was surrounded by Museveni's
unprofessional soldiers in an effort to indtimidate Wine. Bobi Wine
said, "In Hoima, after the military and police blocked us, they
trailed us to the hotel to the hotel at which we plan to spend the night.
Heavily armed military personnel have surrounded the hotel. Some are
moving in a numberless (plateless) military van. Some operatives are
non-uniformed, yet armed. They've assaulted journalists and chased them
away from the hotel. Pray for Uganda! Work for a new Uganda."
Nov
26, 2020:Wine headed for
Buliisa, Masindi (where he was blocked from addressing the people),
and finally held a massive rally in Kiryandongo.Once again, Wine
was prevented by the police from sleeping in a hotel in Mijeera.
Wine spent the night sleeping in his car, while journalists slept
on the ground as an act of solidarity with Bobi Wine.
Nov
27, 2020: Bobi Wine campaigned
in Kyankwanzi, Kiboga and Kasanda. Mrs. Wine (Barbie Kyagulanyi)
made surprise appearances on the campaign trail and spoke to National
Unity Platform supporters.
Mr
and Mrs Kyagulanyi--Courtesy photo: Facebook
Nov.
28, 2020: Bobi Wine's biggest rallies
to date were in Nakasongola,Luweero and Nakaseke.
These areas are referred to as the "Mecca" of the National
Resistance Movement (NRM). However, the welcome Kyagulanyi received,
left no question that he owns the countryside.
Nov.
30, 2020: The campaign trail continued
to Mukono, particularly to: Nakifuma, Buikwe and Lugazi.
All attendances were humongous, despite the live bullets and teargas
used to intimidate people. Mukono was really a labor of love.
Nothing could extinguish the love people showed to Bobi Wine, as the
crowds congregated to hear Wine's speeches.
Dec
1, 2020: Bobi Wine had to halt
campaigning in Kayunga, Jinja and Kamuli,due
an assassination attempt by the state, that he narrowly escaped.
Dec
2, 2020: Bobi Wine presented evidence to the Uganda Electoral Commission
showing misconduct by the state, and held a press conference.
Dec
3, 2020: Bobi Wine continued with
successful campaign trail to the Eastern region and made stops at Kibuku,
Budaka and Manafwa.
Dec
4, 2020: Bobi Wine's campaign took
him to Budada, Kapchorwa and Kween. Wine wore a
bullet-proof vest because he distrusts Museveni's intentions. While
on the campaign trail the heard of death of one of his friend Sheikh
Noah Muzaata, who had died under suspicious circumstances.
Dec
5, 2020:Wine paused his
campaign so he could pay tribute to his fallen comrade Noah Muzaata
Batte at a burial ceremony.
Dec
6, 2020:Bobi Wine continued
his trail to the infamous area of Luuka (where Museveni arrested
him on Nov 18, 2020), and Kamuli, were he was eagerly
awaited by tremendous crowds. His trip to Jinja was
blocked by the military.
Dec
7, 2020:The trail took
Kyagulanyi back to northern Uganda in the townships of Zombo, Madi-Okollo
and Terego. Wine attempted to proceed late in the evening to
Arua but was prevented by the usual suspects.
Dec
8, 2020: Bobi Wine had perhaps
the most peaceful campaigns today, from Maracha, to Koboko
and finally to Yumbe. The Koboko crowd exceeded Wine's
expectations and by far has been the largest in Northern Uganda to date.
Dec 9, 2020:Bobi Wine traveled toObongi, Moyo(to an overflowing audience) and arrived late in the evening atAdjumani,where electricity was cut off.
Dec 10, 2020:This was one of Bobi Wine's toughest days in which the state harrassed and taunted him. His campaign trail took him toAmuru,then briefly toLegu, Omoro,then he was prevented from completing the final destination atNwoyainAcholi district.
Dec 11, 2020:Bobi Wine campaigned atKole, however his campaigns inAlebtongandOtukewere met with resistance from state operatives. There was a 10-hour standoff between battallions of troops and Uganda's most feared man Bobi Wine inLira. Eventually Wine was kidnapped and held hostage by the unprofessional security operatives. After a local and global outcry, the state released its hostage Kyagulanyi in the morning, to continue on the campaign trail.
Dec 12, 2020:The campaign trail continued toLamwo, KitgumandKarengainKaramojaregion.
Covering the campaign trail live, are the following media outlets:
Dec 13, 2020:Bobi Wine started the day with a Sunday morning holy mass at Kalongo Parish in Agago district. Bobi Wine addressed the people atAgago, AbimandKapelabyong, thereafter he continued to Buganda down south.
Dec 14, 2020:This was day of rest for the National Unity Platform entourage.
December 15, 2020:Bobi Wine checked in at the Electoral Commission then commenced to western Uganda on his campaign trail toIbanda.
Mr. and Mrs. Wine having the time of their life on the campaign trail. (-Facebook courtesy photo)
December 16, 2020:Bobi Wine was joined by the First Lady Barbie on the trail toKisoro Rubanda, Rukigaand finallyKabale.
Bobi Wine and the First Lady Barbie Wine cheering the crowd on. (Facebook courtesy photo).
December 17, 2020:Bobi and Barbie Wine continued together on the trail toKanungu, Rukungiriand ended the day inMitooma.
The Wines in Rukingiri, Uganda (--Facebook courtesy photo).
Dec. 18, 2020:Bobi Wine and wife traveled in western Uganda in the areas ofRwampara,where his car tires were shot with live bullets by Museveni's men. The Wines then proceeded toNtugamo,and their final rally inIsingirowas blocked by the police, out of fear that more people would love Bobi Wine.
Dec 19, 2020:Bobi Wine campaigned from a distance inSheemaafter police prevented his supporters to the rally. Wine then campaigned inBushenyiand finallyRubirizi.
Dec 20, 2020:Bobi and Barbie Wine started the day off the day atOur Lady of Perpetual Help Cathedral, Nyamitanga.Wine continued to campaign in western Uganda particularly aroundMbarara city.
Dec 21, 2020:The Christmas week began with the Wine trail atKiruhura, Kitagwendaand then a brave recption inIbandawhere police attempted to intimidate attendees. Wine's supporters showed him love by showering him with money to pay for his travel expenses.
Dec 22, 2020:Bobi Wine briefly campaigned inKamwenge,and was prevented from campaigning inKikube,but he used loud speaker to talk to the people while doing a drive-thru in town. He later proceeded toKakumirowhere Musevenis soldiers started behaving in their normal uncivilized manner. Kyagulanyi spoke on a microphone as his truck drove through the town and told people not to be afraid of the cowardly soldiers who fire teargass into people. If Bobi Wine gets his wish, these rogue soldiers and policemen will be out of work by mid-January.
Dec 23, 2020:Bobi Wine campaigned inBuganda the Central region, inMubende, Mityanaand found difficulties inButambala.
Dec 24, 2020:This was a special day for Kyagulanyi Sentamu. He campaigned in his hometown ofGomba, where he paid respect to his ancestors, and also attempted to campaign inSembabule,with a lot of resistance from Museveni's soldiers.
Dec 25, 2020:Kyagulanyi and his family kicked off Christmas mass atSt. James Rugarama Church in Ntungamo Districtwhich is his wife's birthpalce. He then showcased a concert for his entire crew at his in-laws.
Dec 26, 2020:Wine continued his campaign inLyantonde, Rakai,and was hindered by Museveni from holding campaigns in Kyotera.
Afraid that Bobi Wine has gained popularity nationwide the regime announced that no more campaigning was allowed due to Covid-19.
Dec 27, 2020:This was a tragic day for Bobi Wine, as he lost his bodyguardFrancis Ssentezato Museveni's military, after they ran over him, and reversed the military vehicle to make sure they murdered him "properly". Another one of Bobi Wine's journalistic crew Ashraf Kasirye is still fighting for his life after he too was shot at by state operatives.
Dec 28, 2020:Bobi Wine attended the funeral of his slain bodyguard,Frank Senteza.
Dec 29, 2020:Bobi Wine attended the funeral of his slain bodyguard,Frank Senteza
Dec. 30, 2020:Bobi Wine campaigned on the island ofKalangalain Lake Victoria, where he and 95 members of his team were illegally arrested and imprisoned under the orders of Dictator Museveni. After a public outcry, Wine was released but his crew members are still in prison in Masaka being tortured for supporting the presidential candidate.
Dec. 31, 2020:Bobi Wine successfully campaigned inBukomansimbiandMpigion the eve of the new year.
Jan. 1, 2021:Mr. Kyagulanyi attended mass atRubaga Catholic Churchto kick off the new year.
Jan. 2, 2021:Bobi Wine gave his State of the Nation address in which he talked about the torture and kidnapping of his supporters who are still detained by Museveni for supporting Robert Kyagulanyi.
Jan 3, 2021:Bobi Wine attended a church service atOmega Healing Center,and returned to his esate in Magere.
Jan 4, 2021: Bobi Wine held a press conference at the National Unity Party headquarters inKamwokya, where he addressed the unfairness of the Electoral Commission. Museveni is allowed to campaign while Bobi Wine's campaigns were illegally stopped. Wine also did a television interview with BBS TV and addressed similar foul play by the Electoral Commison.
Jan 5, 2021:Bobi Wine hostedSimba FM 97.3,and talked about his manifesto. While Wine was hosting the radio station, he said he would soon announce the continuation of his campaign. (Hosted because at this point in the game the radio station profits from Wine in terms of listenership).
Jan 6, 2021:Bobi Wine continued to be persecuted by the state on his way toNamisindwawhere he was gifted a new pick-up truck by Mr. Steven Nyuruki to help him after state operative impounded his campaign vehicles.
Jan 7, 2021:Bobi Wine campaigned inMbaleandNamayingoin the eastern part of the nation.
Wine also file a complaint at the ICC against Museveni.
Jan 8, 2021:Bobi Wine made an appearance on Pearl FM Uganda and talked about his plans for the new Uganda.
Jan 9, 2021:This was a special day for Bobi Wine. He spent it in his recording studio.
Jan 10, 2021:Bobi Wine did an interview with NBS morning breeze and also prayed at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Namungoona, Kampala.
Jan 11, 2021:Today seemed like a day off for Bobi Wine, even though behind the scenes he was working to free his friends Nubian Li, Eddie Mutwe and about 95 others, who were kidnapped by Museveni's adminstration.
Jan
14, 2021: This
was election day. After Bobi Wine voted, he was placed under house
arrest.
Jan
16, 2021: EC
and media houses were compelled to declare Museveni winner.
Jan
25, 2021: Judge
orders the release of Bobi Wine.
Feb
1, 2021: A
petition was filed in court to challenge election results. Bobi
Wine believed the election was rigged in favor of Museveni.
Feb
4, 2021: Bobi
Wine host the European Union delegation at his home.
Covering the campaign trail live, are the following media outlets: