“Neither I nor my fellow NUP leaders approached the Katikkiro to declare us winners. We know he is not the Electoral Commission.” — President Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu on NTV Uganda, 8 May 2025 (HowWe Uganda)
1 What Sparked the Exchange?
During an interview with Sanyuka TV in April, Buganda Prime Minister (Katikkiro) Charles Peter Mayiga said some National Unity Platform (NUP) supporters had “pressured me to announce that the 2021 election was unfair, but I didn’t. I’m not the Electoral Commission.” (HowWe Uganda)
The remark quickly gained traction online, prompting calls for clarification from People-Power activists.
2 Bobi Wine’s Four-Point Reply
| Bobi Wine’s Message | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| 1. No lobbying took place. “We never asked you to declare us winners,” he told NTV. | Counters the narrative that NUP tried to drag the Buganda Kingdom into partisan cross-fire. |
| 2. Respect institutional roles. He noted that Mayiga “does not head the Electoral Commission.” | Reinforces NUP’s stance that election disputes must be settled by lawful bodies—not cultural institutions. |
| 3. Keep speaking against injustice. Bobi Wine encouraged the Katikkiro to continue condemning human-rights abuses. | Positions the Buganda cabinet as a potential ally in the campaign against abductions and torture. |
| 4. Focus on urgent crises. He cited the fate of jailed bodyguard Eddie Mutwe as an issue that needs every moral voice. | Links the exchange to real-time abuses and keeps public pressure on the army. |
3 Context: Mayiga’s Own Stand on Eddie Mutwe
Just days earlier, Mayiga had publicly urged Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba to hand Eddie Mutwe over to police instead of holding him in military custody, warning that abductions and tribal rhetoric endanger national unity . Bobi Wine’s reply echoes that call, signalling common ground on rule-of-law principles even amid strategic disagreements.
4 What This Means Politically
- Buganda’s palace keeps its distance — Mayiga’s original comment re-asserted cultural neutrality in partisan disputes.
- NUP keeps the moral high ground — by clarifying facts while urging the Katikkiro to keep challenging state abuses.
- Pressure on Muhoozi increases — two high-profile voices now demand lawful treatment of Eddie Mutwe and other detainees.
5 Next Steps for the Movement
- Share verified clips of Bobi Wine’s interview and Mayiga’s earlier statement; avoid misinformation.
- Amplify #FreeEddieMutwe — link the hashtag whenever discussing the Katikkiro’s call for due process.
- Engage cultural leaders constructively — petition them to denounce arbitrary arrests without dragging them into partisan endorsement wars.
Bottom Line
Bobi Wine’s measured response turns a potential rift into a renewed appeal for unity against state brutality: “Let us focus on justice, not rumours.” The ball now sits with every moral leader—cultural, religious, and political—to choose silence or solidarity as Uganda heads toward the 2026 polls.
#PeoplePower | #FreeAllPoliticalPrisoners | #UgandaDecides2026
