How Bobi Forced Luyombya Out Of Race To Clear Way For Long-Time Friend Nubian Li

The National Unity Platform (NUP) extension of the expression of interest forms deadline from June 24, 2025, to July 25, 2025, seemed like a routine decision by the Election Management Committee (EMC).

However, sources close to the largest opposition party reveal that it’s strongman President Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine dictated the one-month extension to enable him time eliminate potential challengers to all his allies.

One notable casualty of what seems to be typical nepotism, was Godfrey Luyombya, the mayoral hopeful in Nakawa Division, one of the key division within Kampala capital city, who was forced out to pave the way for Bukeni Ali alias Nubian Li, a renowned Bobi’s long-time musical friend.

The mayor hopeful, also the Nakawa Division Speaker, had invested heavily in the electoral area, amounting to over Shs500M.

Despite Luyombya’s popularity among electorates in Nakawa, Bobi reportedly sent seven emissaries to convince him to step down. When he refused, Bobi personally intervened, offering two options: withdraw from the mayoral race or contest as an LC.5 councillor and where they could potentially help him become Speaker of the council.

“He told me to step out of the race for his friend Nubian Li. I told him Mr. President, I have invested a lot of money into that electoral area amounting to over Shs500M. So, I kindly, pray that I am left to compete and serve my people the way I have been doing it for the last four years,” the source quoted the ejected member as having said.

Bobi however, reportedly responded with stern words: “You are declaring a war against me, and I am ready to fight you directly as my enemy in 2026 elections. You have to choose between losing it all, or withdraw from the race, you contest as an LC.5 councillor at the KCCA, we shall help you to become the Speaker of the council.”

The Nakawa Division speaker hopeful was taken aback, shaking his head in disbelief. He sought counsel from a mentor, who advised him to forfeit his ambitions despite the four-year colossal investment in his home area.

To Luyombya’s mentor, the Division speaker’s refusal to withdraw from the race as directed, would invite tyrannical revenge by insensitive Bobi, potentially assassinating his political career.

The next day, Luyombya issued a statement announcing his withdrawal from the race, citing his four-year service to the division. He highlighted achievements such as constructing spring wells, donating wheelchairs, and securing bursaries for needy children.

“For the four years, I have given my heart, soul and efforts to serving our Division together with a team of leaders, community members, and media teams, Luyombya recounted.

Via his X account, Luyombya added, “We have succeeded in promoting clean water through constructing over 10 spring wells, donating over 200 wheel chairs to ease mobility of people with disabilities. We have constructed different boreholes, promoted different talents and secured bursaries for needy children…”

People in the Nakawa Dvision were unhappy with his withdrawal, affirming that he had served them without discrimination.

Bobi Directs LoP to Promote Nubian Li

Meanwhile, Bobi’s friend, who is unpopular in the area, is being marketed through strategic donations.

The Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LoP) Joel Ssenyonyi, another sycophant to the party president was instructed by Bobi to always move along with Nubian Li in the electoral area, including him in public donations made with taxpayers’ money courtesy of his office.

“Whenever the LoP makes a donation, he is under strict instructions from Bobi Wine to say the president’s buddy Nubian made a contribution towards it as a way of marketing him to the people,” a source revealed. This move aims to boost Bobi friend’s popularity, despite his lack of connection to the area.

Save for the fact that there is nothing political and leadership about him, Bukeni Ali hails from the northern region, a thing being perceived as ironical that he chose to run in an electoral areas in Kampala.

It has also been revealed that the extended deadline is being used to pressure non-friendly party members to withdraw in favor of those who praise the president. This manoeuvring has sparked concerns about the party’s internal democracy and Bobi’s influence on electoral processes.

As the new deadline approaches, potential candidates are weighing their options carefully, aware of Bobi’s willingness to eliminate anyone perceived as a threat.

Critics argue that Bobi’s interference undermines the democratic process, favoring loyalists over competent candidates.