KAMPALA. Runaway former presidential candidate and Ugandan top opposition figure Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has said he no plans of negotiating with the Kampala regime for his freedom, insisting that his political activities are legitimate.
“We don’t need any negotiation for our political party (NUP) to be recognised. The law is not be negotiated. The law is the law, and according to the laws of Uganda and internationally, we’re a legitimate political party. We have never been disagreeable to dialogue. We are for dialogue, but we don’t believe in transactional dialogue. We believe in constructive and principled dialogue. I’m not going to negotiate [for] my freedom; my freedom has to be guaranteed,” Bobi Wine who is currently in Washington said in a virtual interview with France 24 TV on Tuesday, March 24.
On January 17 , the Uganda Electoral Commission (EC) announced President Museveni, 81 the winner of the January 15 election with 71.65 percent of the 11.3 million votes cast, extending his stay in office for 45 years .
Bobi Wine did not lodge an election petition before the Supreme Court ,but took to his social media rejecting the results, citing the climate of fear characterised by the abduction of his party’s polling agents, the arrest of his supporters, a four-day internet blackout, and instances of ballot stuffing, some of which were captured on camera and circulated on various social media platforms. Bobi Wine had reportedly evaded the security surveillance at his home after casting his ballot and went into hiding.
In an unprecedented move, on the night of January 23, security personnel, some clad in Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) attire, stormed his home, vandalised the house, and harassed his wife, Ms Barbie Itungo, in an attempt to force her to divulge her husband’s whereabouts. Pictures shared on social media showed the sections of the house vandalised and the doors broken. The attack drew widespread condemnation, including bickering among senior government officials, while the military lay siege at the home. Bobi Wine left the country in late January and resurfaced in the United States, where he boasted, and his party affirms, is engaging with senior officials in Washington, a key ally of the Kampala regime in the restive Great Lakes region.
During the interview with France 24, he was asked whether he was ready to return to Uganda, given that he had faced direct attacks from security forces and that the head of the army, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba who is President Museveni’s son, said he was looking for him while he was in hiding for two months.
In his response, Bobi Wine said he plans to return to Uganda and continue his fight for democracy, freedom, respect for human rights and rule of law.
“I intend to go back to my country; my fight is in Uganda. My work is in Uganda and my citizenship is in Uganda. I’m a Ugandan and I have to go back to my country. However, I’m supposed to be in Uganda as a free citizen, not as a person who must beg for my freedom,” he said.
After more than two months, the state security on Tuesday, March 24 vacated Bobi Wine ’s home in Magere ,on the outskirts of Kampala where they had laid siege after the January 15, disputed presidential election held under internet blackout.
