National Unity Platform (NUP) party president Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine has said his party is not safe from President Yoweri Museveni. 

“We have seen Museveni taking over the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) and then after we saw how Museveni bought the Democratic Party using Norbert Mao the party president. I don’t think that NUP is really safe from Museveni’s infiltration,” Kyagulanyi said. 

This comes at a time when Forum for the Democratic Change (FDC) party president Patrick Amuriat and party secretary general Nandala Mafabi are ‘fighting’ with Ibrahim Ssemujju, the party spokesperson, over sh300m allegedly received from Museveni. 

“While I was away, there were scandals in the FDC. It is unfortunate that Museveni is playing with the same old script but our opposition parties are not seeing through,” Kyagulanyi said, adding that even some leaders within NUP have been already compromised. 

He made the remarks while addressing the media at the party head offices in Kamwokya, Kampala on Wednesday, August 23, 2023. 

“We have seen Njeru Municipality MP Jimmy Lwanga and Bukoto South MP Dr Twaha Kagabo selling out to Museveni,” Kyagulanyi said. 

He said in 2016, Museveni had promised to wipe up out the entire opposition in the country, but little did he know that NUP was coming. 

Kyagulanyi said Museveni can only buy a few politicians, religious leaders, and individuals, but he cannot buy the people’s desire for change. 

He said many politicians come to NUP because they know that NUP connects with people and want to use it as a vehicle. 

“I urge you voters to see through those leaders,” Kyagulanyi said. 

He urged Ugandans who are seeking change not to give up, adding that “those right- thinking leaders in FDC, DP and UPC, NUP share your misery.” 

World Bank sanctions 

However, Kyagulanyi expressed displeasure towards the World Bank which he referred to as coming out late after Uganda signed the Anti-Homosexuality bill. 

“The World Bank is only holding back on loans because of the signing of the Anti-Homosexuality bill. We have been calling on the international community to look at the atrocities that the Museveni government has done but played dump,” Kyagulanyi said.   

He said, “While we welcome sanctions against Museveni, we call out the hypocrisy of the international community to know that our rights to lives matter as well. World Bank should not only look at the rights of the gays alone but should look at the rights of Ugandans at large.” 

Ssegirinya’s health 

Using the same platform, Joel Ssenyonyi, the party spokesperson, said from the time Kawempe North MP, Muhammad Ssegirinya was in prison, he was unwell and was not in a position to access proper health services. 

“Ssegirinya is undergoing medical review from our team in the Netherlands.  The party is yet to ascertain what the problem could be and how the party can be of help,” Ssenyonyi said, adding that even the Parliament is looking into his health issues.