KAMPALA – Political analysts have said Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi’s chances of taking power are slim because he has lost his original mission.
Kyagulanyi, known by his music stage name Bobi Wine, is the leader of the People Power Movement that has been swept the country by storm, threatening the foothold of existing political parties such as FDC, DP and UPC. Bobi Wine has since declared his intention to stand for president come 2021.
But Dr Gerald Karyeija, an Associate Professor of Public Administration and Management at Uganda Management Institute, said he no longer sees what Bobi Wine represents.
“I seem to be missing what Bobi Wine represents anymore. He is running so fast way ahead of the rest and for as long as you give the impression that it is about you and not others, people abandon you. Politicians in this country lack Ideological locus,” he says.
“Bobi Wine seemed to have come up with a good philosophy for which he was identified with but now, he seems to not identify with it anymore. He is becoming more about fame likes others. I don’t find him promoting what is different from the rest,” he adds.
Mr Yusuf Serunkuma, a PhD student at Makerere University Institute of Social Research (MISR), supports Dr Karyeija.
“The day Bobi Wine cut off his dreads is when he abandoned his constituency. There is so much noise in his head to the extent of him losing himself. He has to get out of the public domain to get back his old self,” he says.
“He is a victim of traditionalism. He has been sandwiched between psychopathic opposition players. His core constituency isn’t people who wear suits. There is so much noise in his head to the extent of him losing himself. He has to get out of the public domain in order to get back his old self,” he adds.
Bobi Wine was on Monday blocked from holding his presidency consultative meeting in Gayaza, Kasangati Town Council in Wakiso District, despite fulfilling all requirements by the Electoral Commission.
And Mr Serunkuma says Bobi Wine will not be allowed to consult anywhere.
“Bobi Wine will not consult anywhere. The EC might have given him a signature that says he is okay to consult, but people see different. If he is not stopped by the police, the people will refuse to host him. This is the harvest period for the police, they will harvest Bobi Wine until he is dry. He is going to be a threat throughout because President Museveni does not underestimate anything. In moments of revolutions, there is a certain level of fluidity that one can’t ignore,” he says.
Serunkuma added: “To some extent, you might think there is a bit of naivety to think it’s going to be easy for People Power to get to the presidential bid. They do need milage, but I have bad news for them, in countries like Tunisia, Zimbabwe and more, the opposition had to almost die for evolution to happen. The rise of the people almost happens when the opposition is almost dying. People Power is not a movement anymore, it is a political party and I think this is dangerous.”
