"Elections not enough to oust Uganda president from power" - Bobi Wine

Kyagulanyi addressing the mammoth cheering crowds from the middle of the Kabale road.

By Our Correspondent, KAMPALA Uganda

Uganda’s opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) party president Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine has said that elections are not enough to oust President Yoweri Museveni from power.

Kyagulanyi said that Ugandans must do whatever it takes to change the current abusive and dictatorial system. He was speaking in Kasese on Wednesday as part of his nationwide mobilisation campaigns.

He said that there is no time left for the opposition to get organized when it was already clear that Museveni can no longer deliver progress to Ugandans. 

“I would have addressed you using social media but I have come here physically to show you that I did not give up and I don’t want you to give up,” Kyagulanyi said.

He noted that all Ugandans' desires including better service delivery can only happen when the current government is ousted out of power.  Kyagulanyi told his supporters in Kasese town that NUP is pushing for the trial of President Museveni and his son Muhoozi Kainerugaba to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to answer charges related to human rights abuses.

He asked all persons who have been tortured or living with torture victims and with evidence to report to the party leadership with evidence.

“Use your phones, whenever you see wrongs of government, take pictures, record a video and share on social media,” he added. 

On Thursday, for the first time since NUP launched countrywide tours this week faced a confrontation with the police. Police blocked their scheduled rally at Kabale primary school sportsground. Police also confiscated the vehicle carrying the public address system. Kyagulanyi thereafter decided to address the mammoth cheering crowds from the middle of the Kabale road. 

He retaliated the same message of unity across Ugandans irrespective of tribe, religion, or political affiliations. He said all Ugandans desire for the same things and should come together when the time comes. He urged the armed forces to behave sensibly when dealing with the population seeking change and not allow to be used by the regime to inflict abuses on fellow citizens.

Fred Nyanzi, NUP National Secretary for Mobilisation said the tour is intended to form grassroots support bases across the country ahead of the next elections, identify potential candidates for all elective positions and spread the message of change to supporters.

“Across the country, our supporters have been intimidated, harassed by the regime and many now fear to openly identify with us.

“So we thought this tour will among other things give them hope. It is required of us as top party leadership to assert ourselves, resist oppression and do everything within our power to awaken the people and show them the power they yield,” Nyanzi said.

And out of either, a change of tack or fear of censure from local and international human rights watchdogs, security forces have allowed Bobi Wine to go about his tour.

Bobi Wine, his party officials and supporters have in the past endured running battles with security forces breaking up opposition gatherings especially in rural areas. - Africa