‘Bobi Fully Backs LGBTQ+’, Lead Negotiator Tatchell Now Reveals

In a striking turn of events, Ugandan presidential hopeful Robert Kyaguanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine underwent a significant “transformation”, thus shedding his past homophobic views and embracing the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ+) community.

The catalyst for this change was a deliberate effort by veteran gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, a gay himself who led negotiations to lift Bobi Wine’s UK travel ban in November 2023.

Speaking to Colin Stewart, a renowned journalism veteran living in Southern California who is the president of the St. Paul’s Foundation for International Reconciliation, which supports LGBTQ+ rights advocacy journalism, and editor on May 12, 2024, Tatchell recounted Bobi’s old homophobic ways, and the new changed, and all-embracing Bobi.

“I have met Bobi Wine. He is the leader of Uganda’s democratic opposition. I have had extensive conversations with him on LGBT+ rights, and he is no longer homophobic. He and his party members have welcomed me to their London events, knowing that I am gay and an LGBT+ activist, despite the risk of this being exploited by the dictatorship and used against them,” Tatchell said.

Tatchell added, “It is true that Bobi Wine used to be homophobic. He was rightly banned from the UK for several years by the Government because of his homophobia.”

However, through extensive conversations and education on LGBTQ+ issues, Bobi Wine began to see the error of his ways as Tatchell reveals.

“Following criticism and lobbying by myself and Ugandan LGBTs in London, Bobi has changed his mind. He [Bobi Wine] says his homophobic past originated from the intensely bigoted culture in which he grew up, and to which he was exposed. He never knew anything different. But now that we have educated him about LGBT+ issues, he is not homophobic anymore.”

This transformation was not an overnight process, but rather a deliberate effort by Tatchell and other LGBTQ+ advocates to educate Bobi Wine on the importance of inclusivity and acceptance.

Behind The Scenes Of The UK Entry Ban Lift

Tatchell revealed, “Bobi has apologized for his anti-LGBT+ past. In light of his apologies, the UK government lifted his entry ban. The bar for lifting an entry ban is very high. Such bans are only lifted if the UK government is convinced that the apology is genuine, and there is evidence of a change of heart. That Bobi has changed his views is also accepted by many Ugandan LGBTs living in London.”

Bobi Wine’s commitment to LGBTQ+ rights did not go unnoticed when the EU’s David Vidal Sans, a self-described social media expert, publicly endorsed Bobi, tweeting on April 5^th, 2024, “Honored to meet Uganda’s most prominent leader @HEBobiwine. He is not only fighting for human and LGBTI+ rights but also exposing the dictatorial reality of his country in the 2024 Oscar-nominated documentary Bobi Wine: The People’s President.”

However, the tweet that showed a public confirmation of support for LBTQ+ as a testament to Bobi’s genuine transformation was quickly deleted.

 

Bobi’s Coached Cautious Approach To LGBTQ+ Questions

Although Bobi Wine’s cautious approach to publicly supporting LGBTQ+ rights had raised eyebrows, especially among the Ugandan LGBTQ+ community and their rights advocates, Tatchell defended the approach, arguing that openly supporting LGBTQ+ rights in a country Uganda with overwhelming public backing for toxic homophobia would be “electoral suicide” for Bobi.

Tatchell explained, “When asked about LGBT+ rights in recent years, Bobi has not disowned or condemned them. He said he supports equality and human rights for everyone –that includes LGBTs. That is the best that any leading Ugandan politician can say, given the country’s toxic homophobia, which has overwhelming public backing.”

Tatchell asserted, “For Bobi to openly support LGBT+ rights would be electoral suicide. It would keep Museveni in power, which would perpetuate disaster for LGBT+ Ugandans.”

Despite this cautious approach, Bobi Wine has shown a willingness to confront his own party members who have worked against LGBTQ+ rights.

In an interview whilst in the UK shortly after the entry ban lift, Bobi Wine accused his MPs of working with Museveni to pass the Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA), despite his party’s official stance.

“In my party, I have members of parliament that are working with Gen. Museveni… This law was not introduced by Museveni in the interest of the Ugandan people; rather, it was designed to target the opposition, including myself,” he said.

When people misconstrue such responses as a lack of commitment to support the LGBTQ+ community while in power, Tatchell argued, “The idea that Bobi is using LGBT+ rights for political gain is not true. He gains nothing and loses a lot by renouncing homophobia. It is being used by Museveni to discredit and undermine him.”

In reality, Bobi Wine’s transformation is a testament to the power of LGBTQ+ education and advocacy, and to this, Tatchell convinced his peers “We need to think carefully about the best, most effective tactics to secure LGBT+ rights – not just what is ideal, right in principle, and sounds best. There is a legitimate role for tactical compromise to win the long game.”

For Tatchell, the stakes are high as he argues, “The number one human rights priority is to end the Museveni dictatorship. Bobi Wine is the best hope to achieve that. He would have won the last election, but Museveni rigged the vote, hobbled the media and judges, and subjected Bobi and his party to a reign of terror by the police and army.”

To Tatchell, Bobi Wine’s transformation is a beacon of hope for LGBTQ+ individuals in Uganda, and it is only Bobi Wine’s presidency that would secure the LGBTQ+ community’s rights in Uganda, subject to being held accountable for any possible breaches of the agreement.

“There will never be LGBT+ rights in Uganda while Museveni is in power. Bobi as president, and his party in government, are preconditions for any advance in LGBT+ rights and all other democratic freedoms. And, of course, we must hold them to that.”

Bobi Wine’s own words also speak to his transformation. In an interview still in the UK, he reflected on his past homophobic statements, saying, “Yes, I took responsibility because I actually called for the burning and killing of all homosexuals. During that interview, I communicated that people grow and transform, and as a leader, I transformed from calling for the death and killing of people who differ from me. I stand by my word … [I want to?] be a leader of all people in the population even those that are not like me.”

To comfort his peers, Tatchell revealed that the same tactics were applied in South Africa during the fight against apartheid.

“The South African and global LGBT+ movement supported freedom for Nelson Mandela in the 1980s even though he did not support LGBT+ rights until much later even though leading figures in his ANC party were viciously homophobic at the time. They understood that the precondition for LGBT+ rights in South Africa was ending the apartheid dictatorship. In my view, and that of some Ugandan LGBTs in London, the same tactical thinking is needed in Uganda today,” Tatchell said.

The Tatchell blockbuster revelations have put to the rest any lingering doubts among Ugandans about Bobi Wine’s stance on the LGBTQ+ community, unequivocally confirming his support for their rights and freedoms.

Tatchell’s Full Disclosure About Bobi’s Support To LGBTQ+

I have met Bobi Wine. He is the leader of Uganda’s democratic opposition. I have had extensive conversations with him on LGBT+ rights, and he is no longer homophobic. He and his party members have welcomed me to their London events, knowing that I am gay and an LGBT+ activist, despite the risk of this being exploited by the dictatorship and used against them.

It is true that Bobi Wine used to be homophobic. He was rightly banned from the UK for several years by the Government because of his homophobia. Following criticism and lobbying by myself and Ugandan LGBTs in London, Bobi has changed his mind. He says his homophobic past originated from the intensely bigoted culture in which he grew up and to which he was exposed. He never knew anything different. But now that we have educated him about LGBT+ issues, he is not homophobic anymore

Bobi has apologized for his anti-LGBT+ past. In light of his apologies, the UK government lifted his entry ban. The bar for lifting an entry ban is very high. Such bans are only lifted if the UK government is convinced that the apology is genuine, and there is evidence of a change of heart. That Bobi has changed his views is also accepted by many Ugandan LGBTs living in London.

Bobi’s apology has been used against him by the country’s dictator president, Yoweri Museveni, who has arrested, detained, and tried to kill him.

When asked about LGBT+ rights in recent years, Bobi has not disowned or condemned them. He said he supports equality and human rights for everyone –that includes LGBTs. That is the best that any leading Ugandan politician can say, given the country’s toxic homophobia, which has overwhelming public backing. For Bobi to openly support LGBT+ rights would be electoral suicide. It would keep Museveni in power, which would perpetuate disaster for LGBT+ Ugandans.

The idea that Bobi is using LGBT+ rights for political gain is not true. He gains nothing and loses a lot by renouncing homophobia. It is being used by Museveni to discredit and undermine him.

We need to think carefully about the best, most effective tactics to secure LGBT+ rights – not just what is ideal, right in principle, and sounds best. There is a legitimate role for tactical compromise to win the long game.

The number one human rights priority is to end the Museveni dictatorship. Bobi Wine is the best hope to achieve that. He would have won the last election, but Museveni rigged the vote, hobbled the media and judges, and subjected Bobi and his party to a reign of terror by the police and army.

There will never be LGBT+ rights in Uganda while Museveni is in power. Bobi as president and his party in government are the preconditions for any advance in LGBT+ rights and all other democratic freedoms. And, of course, we must hold them to that.

Some LGBT+ Ugandans who criticise Bobi are not involved in the wider Ugandan democracy movement. They have a narrow LGBT+ rights perspective and seem not to see the bigger picture and the need for tactics that will win for LGBTs in the end.

The South African and global LGBT+ movement supported freedom for Nelson Mandela in the 1980s even though he did not support LGBT+ rights until much later – and even though leading figures in his ANC party were viciously homophobic at the time. They understood that the precondition for LGBT+ rights in South Africa was ending the apartheid dictatorship. In my view, and that of some Ugandan LGBTs in London, the same tactical thinking is needed in Uganda today.