MP Kanyike’s Loyalty To Bobi Wine Fails To Win Over Constituency Voters
Bukoto East MP Evans Kanyike, is facing a daunting reality as his seeming unwavering loyalty to the National Unity Platform (NUP) leader, Bobi Wine is not resonating with his constituency voters.
News reaching us indicates that in a shocking turn of events, MP Kanyike’s attempt to hold a public rally in Nnyondo village, Kasaka parish, Buwunga sub-county, Masaka district on September 21, 2024, was met with fierce resistance, with residents holding placards, and openly expressing their discontent with an MP whom they accused of being “absent” and non-performer.”
A message on one of the placards read, “Kanyike Evans Omubaka Bukoto East twakukoowa toyina kyotukoledde kati otugambaki,” loosely translated as (Kanyike Evans, the MP, Bukoto East, you have done nothing for us. What are you telling us now?”
Several women who were also flashing placards with Luganda words, “agende tetwamuyise, atuviire agende talina kyatukolera twamukoowa nekuno tasulako agende tetwamuyise…”
In English, the words mean, “let him [Kanyike] go because we did not invite him, he should leave us alone after all, he has never done anything for us and he is not a resident of this constituency.”
The Nnyondo community therefore blocked Kanyike’s attempted rally, showing full annoyance and hostility towards their MP.
Fruits of Discord
As a NUP member, MP Kanyike’s struggles may be linked to the party’s reputation for extremist politics and violence when disagreements arise. NUP has been known to nurture a culture of confrontation, which may have contributed to the hostility towards MP Kanyike.
MP Kanyike was also part of the group of leaders of greater Masaka including MPs who visited the NUP party president’s home in Magere recently, to offer gifts, and praised the Opposition’s strongman Bobi now in the UK.
However, Kanyike’s loyalty although he told his leader that “Masaka is a liberated area from those who rebelled from within NUP,” has not translated into support from his constituents.
During the blocked rally, residents held placards with messages in Luganda, stopping MP Kanyike from exiting his car and ordering him to take his meetings elsewhere.
Scuffles broke out between residents and MP Kanyike’s supporters, with allegations of phone theft and rough statements against the MP.
This was not an isolated incident, since MP Kanyike has faced similar challenges in his constituency, hinting at a deeper-seated issue where his voters feel neglected, and ignored since 2021. On August 23, 2024, he faced a similar challenge at Kaziru village, where he verbally clashed with residents, and threatened to arrest protesters.
Save for neglect accusations, constituents have also criticized MP Kanyike who chose to get back to school for an academic upgrade, for failing to consult them on key issues, such as the Fisheries and Aquatic Amendment Act of 2023.
MP Kanyike’s struggles raise questions about his future in politics. With similar incidents occurring in his constituency, it remains unclear whether he will continue to traverse the area, where residents are increasingly hostile towards him.