Revolutionary Platform’s Bigirwa urges politicians to embrace reasoned debate over abuses

Kamuli, Uganda: The President of the Eastern Revolutionary Platform, Moses Bigirwa, has called on politicians across the country to shift away from abusive political exchanges and instead embrace politics of reasoning and substance.

Addressing journalists on Friday ahead of his pressure group’s maiden rally slated for Saturday, May 17, 2025, at Kamuli Taxi Park, Bigirwa criticized what he described as the “politics of kumanyoko” — a vulgar and confrontational style of political engagement that he said is degrading the country’s democratic discourse.

“As Eastern Revolutionary Platform, we don’t believe in the politics that Mr Norbert Mao once referred to as the ‘politics of kumany*ko,’ where leaders exchange hatred instead of engaging in mature debate,” Bigirwa said. “Uganda’s politics has been downgraded by many so-called politicians who now major in abuse rather than articulating matters that concern the ordinary citizen.”

Asked whether his rally constitutes early campaigning, Bigirwa dismissed the suggestion, saying the event is intended to raise political consciousness and promote issue-based politics.

“We are not campaigning,” he stated. “This is a political season, so we are doing what we know best. We want to tell our people to stop supporting politicians who abuse each other and start listening to those who speak with substance.”

Bigirwa blamed the widespread political fights on the ruling government’s failure to cultivate ideology among leaders.

“Most of these politicians don’t have an ideological compass. That’s the kind of politics the regime encourages—shouting and chaos instead of ideas,” he said.

He also urged Ugandan youth to avoid being used as tools in political conflicts, warning that many are exploited and later abandoned.

Bigirwa confirmed that all security protocols have been followed ahead of the Kamuli rally, and that clearance has been obtained from relevant agencies.

“We wrote to all the security agencies seeking permission, and we have their clearance,” he said. “We’ve complied fully with the Public Management Act and followed all procedures.”