
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is trying every way possible to deflect and dismantle the opposition. He has used all the tactics he can muster. Even the will of trying to make Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) irrelevant and also internal in-fighting isn’t helping the cause of the President. Because, there has come another force, another wave he cannot control or even interfere.
This one is Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine who represents the new generation and the ones ready for change from the status quo and is ready for proper representation. Not just a fake peace, where if they question the ruler and his party. You will face consequences. Bobi Wine has done this and has already paid. Now Bobi Wine are going through what Kizza Besigye has been through. Just today, the whole of Masaka was a militarized zone and road-blocks to the Masaka Liberation Square, where the Democratic Party Re-Union was happening and he was invited.
Bobi Wine proved there, why he has such a support and why people listen to him, as he said this:
“We must remember that it will not come easy. As Nelson Mandela said, there is no easy walk to freedom. Our struggle will not be different from the others in the past. Some of us have already paid a price and we are ready, if it means paying more. Because I am convinced that freedom does not come to those who cry, but to who struggle for it. And those who struggle for it must be willing to sacrifice. Today we meet eight days after the commemoration of the Democratic Party founding father’s brutal murder by the Idi Amin regime. On 21st September 1972, Benedicto Kiwanuka was abducted from the High Court building and murdered by the regime of the time. Those who killed him thought that they had achieved it all. I am sure that day, they congratulated themselves for the work well done. Just like President Museveni has been congratulating some people for torturing us and killing our people. But the fact that we gather here today is evidence that ideas do not die. He was killed, but what he stood for could not be killed. Benedicto Kiwanuka envisioned a united country built on justice, democracy and equality. Today we are here speaking about those principles which he cherished. I have no doubt in my mind that those who oppress us today will one day go, and Uganda will be free. Our generation is called upon to step up and act” (Bobi Wine Address on 28th September 2018).
Because he speaks from the heart and he is like so many, who has been most part of his life living with the one ruler and his party. That is why he is different and knows that Museveni plans to go nowhere, as Bosco has shown no sign of succession even. Bosco cannot see, how the youths doesn’t respect him or his legacy. As the legacy and whatever he delivered, Bosco did it long time ago and the ones remembering that are either dead or advanced age. As Bobi Wine are ready for good governance and a representative government, not a military junta as off today. Which he has been tortured by and his drive killed. Also, his friends and business-partners behind bars because of his allegiance with them.
“As we grew up, our parents used to tell us interesting stories. One of those stories went like this. Once upon a time, the cockerel was the king of all animals. At the time, it ruled over the lions, the tigers, the leopards, and the elephants. You can imagine a mere hen ruling over the animal kingdom. But what was its secret? It deceived other animals that its red comb was too hot. It made sure that propaganda was spread all over that if you came close to it, you would immediately burn. All animals feared it and for many years it ruled over them and made them do whatever it wanted. But one day, there was rain and it became too cold. All animals wanted fire but they hand no place to find it. So the rabbit organized a meeting and called all animals. It asked to be paid so that it would go and get fire from the cockerels’ head. When the animals had paid it, the hare went into Mr. cockerel’s house in the deep of the night. It moved very slowly and put a piece of wood on the comb of this cockerel. To its disappointment, the thing was as cold as ice. And as the story goes, that was the end of the cockerel’s kingdom. The day we understand our power, and the deception of those who rule over us, we shall free ourselves from oppression” (Bobi Wine Address no 28th September 2018).
If this story doesn’t show the signs of the future. Show the progression and also the use of tales to tell the needs for the struggle. Here is using the cockerel (rooster) as a metaphor for Bosco. As he has used his propaganda to trick people of his strength with his cockerel, which was powerless and just flair. Since the animals had believed and eaten the words of the hen. However, his powers was his propaganda and not his real strength. The same is what the people’s power needs to do and show the lies of Bosco. As his flex is bigger, than his real power. Since he has forgotten his place and his role, as he thinks he can rule all supreme and that the people shall just accept that. That is not how it works.
Bosco is the cockerel (rooster) and people have to become like all the other animals to overturn his kingdom. It is time, to use that power and show that there is alternatives, which isn’t made by the propaganda, but is within the people or all the animals as the tale is telling. This is the richness and also the grand message of Bobi Wine today. As the people have to free themselves and also calling up this generation to step up and act. That is strong words, but also needed words, as the NRM are using the military and police anytime Bobi Wine walks around. Peace.