Singer and opposition politician, Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine has said that Uganda does not need another political liberator like President Yoweri Museveni as this breeds leaders with a sense of entitlement.
He said that what Ugandans want is the power to choose a leader who will serve their interests and the power to remove such a leader if he/she doesn’t deliver.
Bobi Wine is in Kenya on the invitation of youthful MP of Embakasi East (in Kenya), Babu Owino and the two will address rallies on how youth can take their place in politics.
“We don’t need another big daddy. We have put our trust in strongmen and we have suffered the consequences of that,” Bobi Wine said while appearing on Citizen TV in Kenya on Wednesday night.
“Museveni has a strong sense of entitlement. He forgets he’s supposed to be our servant. We are not supposed to fear him, he is suposed to fear us,” he added.
The 36-year-old said that his People Power movement advocates for Ugandans reclaiming their power, and to ensure that the country has institutions that are bigger than the individuals in power.
He said that rather than a situation where one individual claims the credit for liberating Ugandans, the citizens should collectively take responsibility for this liberation.
Asked whether he harbours Presidential ambitions, Bobi Wine like he has done before did not give a straight answer. Instead he responded; “It doesn’t have to be about who will be President. As long as institutions are dead, it wont make any sense”.
He said that under the current statusquo, anybody who raises their head to challenge President Museveni is up against all security agencies and other institutions.
Bobi Wine made global headlines in August when he was arrested during the Arua municipality by-election and was placed in military detention. He alleged that he was severely tortured by security personnel during his arrest and in detention.
As to whether his pursuit for political change is worth it, Bobi Wine said he doesn’t not regret.
“As a human being, I fear for my life. I love my wife, I have children and I want to see them grow. But I fear growing old in a messed up country even more,” the Kyadondo East MP said.
“It’s not about my family. What the thousands of Ugandans are going through is much worse. All I can do is speak for them. I want to do it for as long as I can – and it is so worth it”.
Ugandans have never been united for change than they are today, he said, adding that Museveni’s end is near.
Kenyan MP, Babu Owino backed Bobi Wine and Ugandans to press on for change saying that “you can not stop an idea whose time is ripe”.
“What is happening in Uganda is inhuman. Museveni needs to know that without the will of the people, he can not succeed. The power of a nation is in its people,” Owino, 30, said.
He said that the young people who are the majority both in Kenya and Uganda are tired of being oppressed and want a sit on the table.
Similarly, Bobi Wine said that Museveni should let the young generation make the same contribution he made while in his prime years.