National Unity Platform (NUP) nominated Presidential Flag bearer in next year’s polls, Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine has called on President Museveni to peacefully transfer power to another individual.
Kyagulanyi who made the request while addressing media following his nomination on Wednesday noted that in doing so, it would ensure a peaceful and orderly transition of power which hasn’t been witnessed in previous post-independence governments.
“We know you (Museveni) don’t like listening to young people, but listen to your bush war comrade, Gen Kahinda Otafiire. Uganda was here before you, and it will be here long after you’re gone. So, please don’t burn it down on your way out” he said.
He added, “The safest guarantee for what you and a small group of family members you surround yourself with is to ensure a peaceful and orderly transition of power”.
Kyagulanyi who was the sixth candidate to be nominated was accompanied by his wife Barbie Itungo and other top party officials to Lweza noted that NUP is set to turn the election into a peaceful protest for change.
“We are protesting using this election season to rally people in Uganda to express their anger at the ballot box. We are going to use this election to protest peacefully, legally, and we shall rally the people of Uganda to vote massively” he said.
Kyagulanyi who is running for presidency for the second time noted that even though they faced a number of challenges in the previous elections, not standing again would be a betrayal to their cause.
“You will ask us why are were contesting in the election, yet we say it’s not fair. We risk it because the alternative is giving up, which is 10 times worse, means betrayal of comrades who died, have been in prison. We have voted before and won before the election, and our victory was rigged”.
He added, “This time is no usual election. We are protesting using this election season to rally people in Uganda to express their anger at the ballot box. We are going to use this election to protest peacefully, legally, we shall rally the people of Uganda to vote massively”.
The NUP Principal called for his supporters to be very vigilant as they commence the campaign period in which the government allegedly is planning to intimidate them.
“I want you to understand what we are fighting for, we are fighting for a better Uganda, for the farmers, boda boda riders, for the young graduates who have no jobs. We are fighting for the ghetto people, those ghetto youth whose future is being stolen away in exchange for a few shillings, we are fighting for the ordinary children whose future is empty and want to give meaning to” he said.
Mr Kyagulanyi further urged his supporters to embrace police officers other than perceiving them as enemies in the wake of their brutality.
“We are fighting for those police officers who are ordered to brutalise you because you are fighting for their children’s future and afterwards they have to return to their uniforms, to an empty house, to children with no school fees and to a family with no health insurance, they are victims too. They also wish that things can change someday”.
Security Forces Brutality, Arrests, Mar Bobi Wine’s Nomination. Photos Courtesy/ Daily Monitor
A combination of police and military were seen brutally assaulting NUP supporters at various points, at Namugoona on the Northern bypass, Police used teargas to disperse supporters as Bobi Wine headed for his Nominations, in Lweza
Thereafter Police arrested Makindye West MP Allan Ssewanyana along with some boda boda riders at Lweza Junction, near the Electoral Commission grounds for a yet to be known reason.
