By Mubiru George
It will take Robert Kyagulanyi a.k.a Bobi Wine a multitude of efforts to break the hell of chains ahead of him to become the president of Uganda. He needs beyond God’s intervention if any to overturn the bad history and curse facing him ranging from tribe, religion and character.
Below is a look at the reasons why I think he will simply settle for a mere political challenger than take up the most prestigious seat from the slick old well-oiled political Tactician.
The Buganda factor: This is one of the biggest obstacles. The rivalry which existed between Buganda and other tribes ranging from pre and post-independence Uganda has never healed. Buganda’s collaboration with the colonialists soured their relationships with other tribes like the organised Bunyoro under King Kabalega who resisted the British occupation of his kingdom for so long as well as the less organised tribes in northern, eastern and western Uganda.
Ranging from Obote, everything the leaders try to do to unite Uganda is sabotaged by powerful Baganda traditionalists despite appointing the majority of their people in government. For example, after Obote’s UPC made a coalition with Buganda’s Kabaka Yeka (KY) ” King Alone” Buganda Traditionalists undermined it forcing Obote to break it and conduct the November 1964 referendum which saw Bunyoro regain its counties of Buyaga and Bugangaizi. The subsequent events saw the occurrence of the 1966 Buganda crisis and aborrogation of the the constitution in 1967 which saw Uganda becoming a republican state. Such wounds have never healed and the history doesn’t give Bobi Wine any chance.
Similarly, the arrogance and superiority complex of Buganda Traditionalists has manifested itself of late where we have seen them leading splits and fightings in political parties for example in DP, FDC as well as the creation of the Kibuli-based faction of Muslims.
This Buganda factor was clearly demonstrated in the previous elections which saw Bobi Wine’s victory in Buganda scooping most of the parliamentary seats but emerging very weak and unpopular in all other parts of the country. Practically, it becomes impossible to win the presidential race without convincing the other parts of the country, which are the majority to join you.
Lack of Vision and Approach: Bobi Wine lacks vision and a broad national approach. He doesn’t have clear domestic and foreign policy ideologies. This was clearly demonstrated by the Anti homosexuality act where he kept silent up to now for fear of annoying the promoters who are seemingly his funders. The NRM’s septuagenarian leader and master tactician showed a lot of braveness in protecting our culture which is under great threat from the West by signing it.
Religion: The legacy of colonial policies continues to be felt in present-day Uganda and has played an important role in political developments and dominance since independence. Given the fact that our colonial masters were Anglicans, their influence will give no space to Kyagulanyi to become president. The imperialists clearly trade through this and it favours the master tactician to continue or General Muhoozi to ascend to power.
Outlandish Character. NUP is characterized by hooliganism from top to bottom. Supporters have on several occasions attacked and abused people who don’t believe in them. The top leaders on numerous occasions have just kept quiet, an indication that they support hooliganism. They once attacked Dr Besigye while at CBS in a bid to drag him out of the so-called lead struggle and create a way for theirs who is undoubtedly bamboozled by glitz.
NUP lacks party structures. For any political party to assume the highest office, it must have established roots from bottom to top. But NUP is a pocket run party without roots. It’s more of a pressure group which can fade and die anytime. They have no clear ideology other than cool cheap, transitory based on a narrow conception of glitz. He seems satisfied when falsely called president hence resting in his Laurels. When he goes to public and causes some excitement mostly in Urban centres, he feels he is the president.
The writer; Mubiru George, is a Jinja-based researcher and an NRM mobiliser. Email: [email protected]
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