Mbale City, Uganda: The Opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has said he will guarantee the safety of President Museveni if the long-serving leader accepts defeat and peacefully hands over power after the January 15 General Election.
Addressing thousands of supporters at Malare playgrounds in Mbale City on Friday, Bobi Wine said preparations for a transition to what he described as a “new Uganda” had already begun.
“We have just over 10 days to reach liberation day, and in the new Uganda, everything will change,” Bobi Wine said. “President Museveni is finishing his term, and if he accepts defeat and hands over the presidency, we will protect him.”
The rally marked Bobi Wine’s first major appearance in Mbale City’s Industrial City Division during the campaign. He arrived in the city at about 1:30 pm to enthusiastic crowds amid a heavy deployment of police and military personnel.
Supporters had gathered from as early as morning at the Sino-Uganda Industrial Park before the opposition leader was routed through the industrial area to Maluku and later to Malare playgrounds.
Ugandans go to the polls on January 15 to elect a president and Members of Parliament.
Claims of Intimidation
Bobi Wine accused the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) of steadily losing popular support, blaming President Museveni’s nearly four-decade rule for unemployment, poverty and deteriorating public services.
“We have defeated President Museveni already,” he told supporters, alleging that security forces were being used to intimidate voters rather than protect them.
“The Electoral Commission knows we are campaigning in Mbale City, but they have refused us to pass through the city. They have deployed the army and police not to protect people, but to intimidate them,” he said.
He further alleged that security agencies attempted to provoke unrest in order to justify his arrest. “Today they wanted to provoke us so they can arrest me, so that you protest and they find a reason to kill people,” Bobi Wine claimed.
Police Dismiss Claims
The Uganda Police Force dismissed the allegations, saying there was no plan to arrest the NUP candidate or engineer violence before polling day. “We categorically dismiss allegations of a scheme to detain candidate Kyagulanyi or engineer incidents before Election Day. These assertions are unfounded and provocative,” police said in a statement.
Bobi Wine, however, cautioned police and military officers against abusing civilians, warning that individual accountability would be enforced under a new administration.
“You are civil servants. You will remain here when Museveni leaves power,” he said. “Do not engage in criminal activities because you will be held individually accountable in the new Uganda.”
He also promised to end tribalism and favoritism in public service. “There will be no special tribe. Every Ugandan will be equal, and jobs will be given on merit,” Bobi Wine said.
Economic Promises for Bugisu
Turning to economic issues, Bobi Wine said farmers in the Bugisu sub-region had failed to benefit adequately from coffee production under the current government. “You grow coffee, but this government grabbed coffee from you,” he said. “When I become president, that will change.”
He pledged improved health services, better transport infrastructure and broad-based prosperity, urging supporters to mobilize voters across the sub-region. “Forty years of pain must come to an end,” Bobi Wine said. “This is not Bobi Wine’s struggle — it is all of us.”
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