Bobi Wine's 150-member team

Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine has moved to establish a formal People Power political structure as the 2021 polls draw close.

Bobi Wine yesterday unveiled close to 150 regional co-ordinators for People Power countrywide. He also named co-ordinators for the youth, women, persons with disabilities, academic institutions and the entertainment industry.

At the function, People Power spokesperson Joel Ssenyonyi said besides the regional co-ordinators, there will also be those from districts, parishes and villages.

The co-ordinators will be accountable to a leadership council headed by Kyagulanyi.

DP a no show
Unlike previous People Power events, this time the top leaders of the Democratic Party (DP) bloc, including Norbert Mao, Michael Mabikke, Abed Bwanika and Samuel Makaku were conspicuously absent.

Also, leaders of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Uganda People's Congress (UPC) and Alliance for National Transformation were absent. At the same event, Kyagulanyi declared his intention to run for the presidency in the 2021 general elections.

There have been media reports that Kyagulanyi had agreed to back former FDC president Dr. Kizza Besigye during the forthcoming elections. But with his declaration yesterday, it appears an alliance between Kyagulanyi and Besigye for a single candidate is unlikely.

Kyagulanyi's strategy
Kyagulanyi said part of his plan is to empower institutions to make them independent. "Instead of big institutions, in Uganda, we have a big personality, something People Power wants to rectify by returning this power to the people, empowering and strengthening institutions so that they can deliver to the people of Uganda," he argued.

People Power has largely entrusted legislators to head the teams in the regions.
There are National Resistance Movement (NRM), DP, FDC, JEEMA and independents legislators who have taken up positions in the People Power.

They include Kassiano Wadri (Independent), Lucy Akello (FDC), Mbwatekamwa Gaffa (NRM), Barnabas Tinkasimire (NRM), John Baptist Nambeshe (NRM), Asuman Basalirwa (JEEMA), Agnes Nabulindo and Winnie Kiiza (FDC).

Others are Robert Centenary (FDC) Medard Ssegona (DP), Latif Ssebaggala, Lutamaguzi Ssemakula (DP), Angelline Osegge (FDC), David Kalwanga Lukyamuzi (IND), Muwanga Kivumbi (DP), Mathias Mpuuga (DP) and Francis Zaake, among others.

However, MP Bildad Moses Adome (NRM), named as head of the People Power team for Karamoja region, distanced himself from the group, saying he was not consulted.

In an interview with New Vision, Adome said he had seen the reports, but his appointment was "a presumption by the People Power group that whoever voted against the Age Limit is for them.

"This is not true to some of us," he said, adding that naming him among co-ordinators could jeopardise his roles as an MP from NRM.

 "I will request to know what exactly the People Power stands for, what they would wish me to do and what they expect me to do and how it may be of help to the people I lead. Short of the above, I won't be fooled to accept what I don't see light in," Adome added.

Internal power struggle
According to sources, the naming of co-ordinators came amid a fierce power struggle within People Power.

Sources said the lineup confirmed a growing rift between Kyagulanyi, and the DP bloc leaders.

They added that some of the DP bloc leaders felt sidelined by Kyagulanyi especially when he named Ssenyonyi as spokesperson without consulting them, and when he held a meeting with Besigye behind their back.

Ssenyonyi denied any power struggle, saying the DP bloc and People Power are distinct entities.

"DP bloc conduct their own activities. We do the same and only notify each other of any developments," he said.

About the absence of key DP leaders from the event, Ssenyonyi said they only invited co-ordinators, although other people turned up as well-wishers.

"That is why DP bloc leaders, who are also People Power co-ordinators, such as Dr. Lulume Bayiga, were present at the press conference, it was not for everyone. Even the party leaders were just notified," Ssenyonyi explained.

Contacted for a comment on the development, Mukaku said naming the co-ordinators is a step in the right direction.

"Kyagulanyi has presidential ambitions and it is good to get people to help him pursue that ambition. I had not seen the list of the co-ordinators before it was unveiled, so to fully accept it, I have to go through it and discuss it with Hon. Kyagulanyi," he added.

DP vice-president Denis Mukasa Mbidde also welcomed the development.

"It is now clearer, engagements and strategies are more directed than it was before. They can now identify opponents and allies. I am the vice-president of DP and I can't be a regional co-ordinator, it is so minor, but of course, I am part of People Power. I have heard about the power struggle, but I am still investigating the allegations," he explained.

Meanwhile, the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) leader Maj. Gen Mugisha Muntu urged ANT members not to be engaged in "controversies over instances where there are colleagues who cut across the Alliance and People Power."

The team

WEST NILE
Hon Kasiano Wadri (Team Leader)
Hon James Acidri
Hon Oguzu Lee
Habib Asega
Maneno Avako

ACHOLI
Hon Lucy Akello (Team Leader)
Hon Gilbert Olanya
Olenga Anthony
Okema Santos

KARAMOJA
Hon Adome Bildard (Team Leader)
Ayen Arnest Lopolo
MukuluPonyu Badru

LANGO
Hon Jonathan Odur (Team Leader)
Moses Okot P'Bitek
Okello Blick
Isaac Okae

TESO
Hon Susan Amero (Team Leader)
Angelina Osege
Herbert Ariko
Ojangone Anthony
George Okoit

TOORO
Innocent Natukunda (Team Leader)
Kakuru Thomas
Hanifa Said
Nyakato Hassan
Doreen Kaija

ANKOLE
Hon Mbwatekamwa Gaffa (Team Leader)
Kakama Moses
Lucas Muhangi
Muhanguzi Kateera
Lubega Muzamir
Nabasa Ronald

KIGEZI
Ayebare Jasper
Daniel Musherura
Rhoda Tuhimbise
Godfrey Byamuikama
Emmanuel Sebiri

SEBEI
Pastor Mathew Santid (Team Leader)
Chemonges Benjamin Kwoyen
Chemisto Kubai

BUNYORO
Hon. Barnabas Tinkasimire (Team Leader)
Amanyire Rogers
Asiimwe Grace
Livingstone Akunguzibwe

BUGISU
Hon. John Baptist Nambeshe (Team Leader)
Anthony Wameli
Wetaka Abas
Sam Mali
Robinah Nadunga

BUSOGA
Hon. Asuman Basalirwa (Team Leader)
Bamu Lulenzi
Mercy Walukamba
Bigirwa Moses
Basakana Hannington

BUKEDI
Hon Nabulindo Agnes (Team Leader)
Wycliff Sanya
Mukasa Abdullah
Yusuf Mutembule
David Oguttu

RWENZORI
Hon Winnie Kiiza (Team Leader)
Hon Robert Centenary
Wakibanahi Joram
Ndungu James

KAMPALA METROPOLITAN
Hon Medard Ssegona (Team Leader)
Latif Ssebaggala
Wakayima Musoke
Naluyima Betty
Hamudani Semugooma
Kenneth Paul Kakande
Patriko Mujjuko
Fred Ssimbwa
Abdullah Kiwanuka
Lydia Namayengo

GREATER LUWEERO
Hon Lutamaguzi Ssemakula (Team Leader)
Brenda Nabukenya
Nanyanzi Shifa
Dennis Sekabira

GREATER MUBENDE
Hon Patrick Nsamba (Team Leader)
Hon Kalwanga David
Kawuma Digo
Siraje Nkugwa
Sumaya Nabawanuka

GREATER MPIGI
Hon Muwanga Kivumbi (Team Leader)
Aisha Kabanda
Hillary Kiyaga (Hilderman)
Teddy Nambooze
Sadam Gayira

MABIRA STRETCH (BUIKWE, KAYUNGA & BUVUMA)
Dr Lulume Bayiga
Resty Nanteza
Arthur Mugabi

GREATER MASAKA
Hon Mathias Mpuuga (Team Leader)
Hon Sewungu Gonzaga
Hon Florence Namayanja
John Mary Ssebuwufu
Charles Kirumira
Katerega Muhammad

YOUTH WING
Hon Francis Zaake(Team leader)
Angella Namirembe (Deputy-Central)
Bosmic Otim(Deputy-North)
Sasi Marvin(Deputy-West)
Mariah Natabi(Deputy-East)

INSTITUTIONS
Roy Semboga (Team Leader)
Muhumuza Umaru
Milkah Nabacwa
Tunduru Jonathan
Bakulu Mpagi

WOMEN WING
Flavia Kalule (Team Leader)
Hon Robinah Ssentongo
Hon Anna Adeke
Nusifa Nakato
Aturinda Agnes
Zamu Kyeyune

PWDs

Pastor Robert Mpala Isabirye (Team Leader)
John Bosco Lukwago
Musa Bazaraki
Mukisa Nambiro Socrates

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Ali Buken alias Nubian Lee (Team Leader)
Hussein Muyonjo alias Swengere
Ronald Mayinja
Flavia Namulindwa
Mathias Walukaga

INFORMAL SECTOR
Nyanzi Fred Ssentamu (Team Leader)
Justine Nakintu
Okello Richard
Ande Kibirige
Andrew Muwanguzi

DIASPORA
Arao Ameny (Team Leader)-US
Belinda Atim-UK
Patricia Mugisha -UAE/Dubai
Ibrahim Sombi - South Africa
Victor Jadribo - Sweden
Karim Ntambi - USA
Capt. David Ssejinja -USA/Canada
Namata Sserumaga - Ghana
Maurice Sabiti - Ghana