Bobi’s Preferred Legal Team Rejected As ‘Incompetent’ In Besigye Case

The leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP) Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine made unyielding efforts to have his party lawyers including George Musisi, David Lewis Rubongoya, Benjamin Katana, and LOP Joel Ssenyonyi join the opposition Kingpin Dr. Kizza Besigye’s legal defense team.

However, his efforts yielded nothing after the family of the incarcerated four-time presidential candidate Besigye flatly rejected this gesture was met with rejection by the family, who deemed the lawyers incompetent to handle the sensitive case.

An anonymous family representative pointed out that the lawyers have a dismal track record, having failed to secure the release of NUP supporters who have been imprisoned for the past four years.

“They have had their supporters within imprisonment for the last four years, and the same lot, especially Musisi and Katana, have been part of the defense lawyers for NUP supporters, but they have never retrieved anyone, and for that, their supporters are still languishing in different detention prisons,” the family representative said.

Besigye’s family expressed skepticism about the lawyers’ abilities, questioning how they could trust a team that includes Ssenyonyi and Rubongoya, who have no experience arguing cases in court.

“How can we even start to trust a team comprised of Ssenyonyi and Rubongoya who have never seen arguing any case in the courtroom?” the family member asked.

Hijacking Spree

The family also accused Kyagulanyi of hijacking Besigye’s court issues and tribulations for personal political gain.

They recalled how Bobi had previously accused the politician of colluding with the government to further his own political career.

“When our dear one [Besigye] was abducted from Nairobi in November last year, this same man [Bobi Wine] with his group said he was in connivance with the Government to make a political comeback for purposes of upstaging him from the political scene. How come he is now so concerned to the extent of wanting to replace our person’s lawyers of his choice with legal novices?” the family representative asked.

It is worth noting that Bobi never took it as a point to attend any of the court sessions since Besigye and his co-accused Hajji Obeid Lutale started making appearances to face charges in the General Court Martial in November, last year. In fact, he would mock any opposition politicians who pioneered the solidarity show to Besigye until when he started delegating his emissaries particularly Ssenyonyi, and Rubongoya.

It is unbothered actions that attracted criticism against Bobi’s lack of concern about Besigye’s incarceration, and until recently, when he was overwhelmed by public pressure to do a semblance of actions.

Sources suggest that Bobi’s attempt to have his blind follower lawyers join the defense team was motivated by a desire to outshine experienced lawyers namely Kampala Erias Lukwago and Busiro East’s Medard Lubega Sseggona, whom he has blacklisted as political enemies.

In fact, he has already embarked on the process to oust Sseggona whom he fell out with after defying his order to join the chorus of hounding ex-LoP Mathias Mpuuga, and Lukwago for being a member of the rival People’s Freedom Front (PFF) from their respective political jurisdictions. Interestingly, Bobi has directed his elder brother Fred Nyanzi Ssentamu to ready himself to unseat Lukwago from Kampala.

Opportunist

Bobi’s actions have been seen as a classic case of opportunism, with many questioning his sincerity.

“That man [Bobi Wine] always wants to be seen in cameras while targeting political gains. Where was he before people raised their concerns about Col. Besigye’s incarceration and health? Why is he now acting as if he is seriously concerned about him? He should stop the pretense and his wicked political stunts,” a PFF member said.

Plan B

On failing to have his legal team co-opted, Bobi’s Plan B was to personally drive to the high court premises to show support for Besigye, a move seen as a publicity stunt. It is not farfetched as Bobi stood in front of Besigye’s wife Winnie Byanyima both inside, and outside the courtroom, to the extent that he grabbed the microphone shortly after lawyer Lukwago addressed the press on the outcome of the Court’s appearance to make Winnie speak last.

This was not the first time Bobi had faced criticism for his actions, having previously been accused of trying to upstage other opposition leaders, including Besigye.

Bobi’s reputation as a social climber who lacks original political ideas has been further solidified by his recent actions, and his tendency to regurgitate others’ ideas, including speeches, has not gone unnoticed.