Bobi Attacks Kabaka Mutebi II, Orders Muwanga Not To Lead Like Him

The leader of the largest opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) party, Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, has launched a scornful attack on Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II’s leadership style, directing his newly appointed deputy president in Buganda, Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi, not to emulate what he termed as monarch’s divisive approach.

Speaking at a victory party organized by Muwanga in Butambala last week to appreciate his leader for elevating him to his dream position, Bobi Wine expressed his disappointment with the Buganda Kingdom’s leadership, which he believes has failed to unite the people.

Instead, Bobi advised Muwanga to follow in the footsteps of the Ssekabaka (late) Muteesa I and Muteesa II, who were known for their non-tribal and inclusive leadership.

“I direct you to lead this Buganda region like Muteesa I and Muteesa II. Our fore Kings were not tribal, and those fore Kings liked and welcomed everybody, and it is because of their behavior that Baganda are liked worldwide,” Bobi Wine told Muwanga.

Controversial as comments sound, Bobi Wine expressed confidence in Muwanga’s ability to deliver on his directives.

“My last message goes to you our deputy president whom we trust, and believe. We have a lot of hope in you, and we know you are going to make it for us because you have always done them even without being the deputy president,” Bobi Wine said.

In the same speech, Bobi Wine reiterated his party’s commitment to unity and inclusivity.

“In our party [NUP], we stand to act like the fore Buganda Kings, and we do not embrace tribalism. I want you [Muwanga Kivumbi] to show the people what we stand for as NUP, we welcome everyone…and that is how we shall move,” he asserted.

Bobi Wine’s attack on King Mutebi’s leadership is not an isolated incident. He has consistently blamed the Buganda Kingdom for betraying his quest to oust President Museveni from power.

“Putting the 60-year-old history behind us, let us talk about this, today the whole country supports us [me] change, but Buganda is still the problem” because of Abebitiibwa,” Bobi Wine said in March 2024 during the burial of the slain Bbosa Lomwa.

He added, “Whenever I go [other regions], they tell me it is the Baganda who brought the whites here…we had a chance to lead Uganda, but it was the Baganda who conspired against Ben Kiwanuka and took Obote him in King’s palace at Bamunanika leaving Ben who started a Buganda party and the rest is history.”

In Butambala, a charged Bobi Wine accused President Museveni of buying off Buganda officials to propel his scheme of dividing the Baganda to his advantage.

“His [Museveni] intention is to divide us through buying some officials there [in Mengo]. It is very fortunate that you people of today’s generation are not sleepy like those people of the 1980s, you are very awake,” Bobi Wine told the crowd.

On top his direct attacks on Buganda Government’s premier Charles Peter Mayiga, Bobi Wine’s supporters have also been attacking the King’s wife and members of the royal family, with the latest being Prince David Kintu Wasajja over his remarks cautioning politicians especially Bobi to stop the Ben Kiwanuka divisive rhetoric talk.

This orchestrated plan to undermine the centuries-old Kingdom is seen as an attempt by Bobi Wine to claim its position of influence in Kabaka’s Buganda territory.

However, Bobi Wine’s directive to Muwanga is seen as a serious impediment to his first assignment to the brand-new deputy president to mend the NUP and Mengo relations given that the principal’s latest utterance seriously undermines the most modern and loved King’s leadership style, making it challenging for Muwanga to achieve his goal.

With or without Mengo on board, Bobi Wine said his resolute in his pursuit of change would remain stronger, likening himself to the flowing Nile to the Mediterranean Sea.

“For us [NUP], we are the water of the [River] Nile, we are flowing to the Mediterranean Sea, and we shall not wait for the little stagnant water in swamps. Let us move ahead, do not be diverted,” he said.