“We saw an election where almost all media houses recalled their staff from the field a few hours after voting had started, just to keep them safe from those who claimed they were securing the election. We saw an election where the main candidate’s nomination papers were seized by security operatives just hours before nomination; his supporters and mobilizers beaten and arrested; and his communication devices seized just hours before voting. Several of our comrades were beaten and imprisoned just for supporting our candidate. Many others are in hospital fighting for their life” (Bobi Wine, 17.03.2025).
Today the victor of the Kawempe North By-Election spoke to his own at the National Unity Platform (NUP) headquarters. As the aftermath of the By-Election is appearing and the spin of the loss for the regime and their party, the National Resistance Movement (NRM). The NRM are already working tirelessly and so is the President too. That has been shown and that’s why I have to reflect on the words of Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi who leads the biggest opposition party and was the party who retained the seat of Kawempe North.
When you read the speech of Bobi Wine. It is another type of play than Museveni. It just shows the difference of character and leadership. Just the way of navigating it and representing. That seems so natural for Bobi Wine. Meanwhile, Museveni is forcing himself and his ways on others.
“I truly congratulate you Counsel Nalukoola for beating the seemingly impossible odds to sit amongst us here today as a Member of Parliament-elect. You were not declared winner because the regime wanted to. You were declared winner because the elaborate measures the people of Kawempe North took to protect their vote left the regime with no other alternative” (Bobi Wine, 17.03.2025).
This here isn’t a new story and Bobi Wine lived through the same thing when he got elected in Kyadondo East. He knows how the games is played and how you have to fight to keep it. There is nothing given in the Republic and especially not elected seas. The contested seats that the NRM wants to win and have control over. That’s why it is a battle and is such a mess to begin with, as the stakes are so high and the willingness of using force is very eminent of the state. Therefore, the prices of doing is costly and that’s proven again. So many lives has been scorned so one man could become an MP.
“Dictator Museveni has since released a statement seeking to undermine the legitimacy of our victory and deflect blame for the criminality he unleashed on citizens in Kawempe” (…) “He accuses us of ballot-stuffing, voter intimidation, and results-tampering. But there is abundant video evidence showing his ministers accompanied by masked goons protected by gunmen engaging in this criminality. The destruction of ballot boxes in Kazo-Angola and other areas was not the work of the opposition—it was orchestrated by regime operatives to create a pretext for rejecting the otherwise legitimate results from an election they simply couldn’t win!” (Bobi Wine, 17.03.2025).
The projection of NRM and Museveni towards the NUP is just bonkers. The viral footage and pictures tells stories that Museveni cannot lie about. Neither can the NRM downplay or think people will forget. It is just really amazing after all these years and plenty of By-Elections. That the NRM and Museveni think people haven’t seen their game before and how it appears. This is their modus operandi and what they does. Kawempe North was no exception, but more of the norm, actually. This is who the NRM is in 2025 and what it has become. Bobi Wine and NUP is just exposing it, and showing it to the world to see.
“To the people of Uganda, let what happened in Kawempe North strengthen our resolve to fight for a better country. Let it remind us that despite the small wins along the way, our struggle for freedom and good governance is far from over. We must keep organizing, mobilizing, and resisting.
We must emulate the people of Kawempe North who have showed us what a PROTEST VOTE means and requires us to do. They united, voted, and guarded their vote. If we replicate their example across other parts of the country, we can beat the dictator at his own game! Freedom is in sight!” (Bobi Wine, 17.03.2025).
The victory of Kawempe North By-Election is a nice one for the NUP. Even if it is a seat and a place that has turned into a stronghold of the opposition. There is a long time since a NRM representative was in place from there. Therefore, it must be with a little hesitation to celebrate to fast too.
The NRM wanted to take it and look strong ahead of 2026. The President wanted to have the final straw and build some sort of momentum before the polls. Meanwhile we know he campaigns with the PDM as his vehicle to do so. Just like he did with OWC and Emyooga in the past. Using government programs as an excuse to canvas voters and hold rallies. This game has been played before and people should watch it.
The NUP cannot do the same and neither can any other serious competitor of the NRM. The authorities won’t allow it or accept it. As that doesn’t fit their plan and their majority rule. It cannot see the growth or see a potential of galvanized support of an opposition leader or party. No that has to be stifled and suppressed. That’s why Bobi Wine cannot rest or be in good vibes for too long. There is to much hurt, pain and suffering ahead of 2026. We saw it in the By-Election and there will be plenty more in the General Elections in 2026. That is just bound to happen, whether we like it or not.
The protest vote of Kawempe is beautiful and poetic in defiance of the state. Now the whole Republic has to do the same. If that happens. Then there is nowhere Museveni or his NRM can go. Until then, freedom is far from visible and is far from hope of another tomorrow. Because right now, we are just waking up to another day of the Yellow Brigade singing their songs of glory and praising the sacrifices of Luweero. Peace.
MinBane 