The National Unity Platform (NUP) president, Mr. Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has announced that the party will replace members he referred to as "traitors" ahead of the 2026 elections.
Speaking during a musical concert in London over the weekend, Bobi Wine accused certain party members of betraying the party and vowed to replace them. While clad in a red jacket and trousers, Bobi Wine took aim at unnamed opponents during his performance, repeatedly throwing jabs at them.
Addressing the crowd, Bobi Wine sang lyrics from his song "Specioza," alleging that opponents from Bukoto South and Kimaanya-Kabonera had betrayed him. He expressed disappointment, singing, “My associates shamed me. If it weren’t for their actions, I wouldn’t have known that I had snakes around me. Had they not betrayed me, I wouldn’t have gotten the replacements we have now.”
During his performance of the song "Matyansi," Bobi Wine emphasized the importance of earning from one's sweat rather than accepting free things.
He stated, “We put an end to the era of free things, dishonesty, and leaders wearing suits.”
Bobi Wine reiterated that those who betrayed him would be replaced, reminding party members that they are in a "struggle" that does not allow them to live comfortably.
Mr. Kyagulanyi has previously emphasized that the party will not tolerate any leaders who go against the party's Code of Conduct. His remarks come amid tensions within the party over alleged misconduct by some leaders.
In a statement on March 15, Ms. Lina Zedriga Waru, the deputy president of NUP for Northern Uganda, announced the National Executive Committee's decision to recall Mr. Mathias Mpuuga from the Parliamentary Commission over a Shs500 million service award. Responding to the accusations, Mr. Mpuuga declined to comment.
“You should be interviewing the party president and not me. Unfortunately, I consider politics so seriously and I do not have time for such.” he said, in an interview with a one national newspaper.
Mr. Lewis David Rubongoya, the National Unity Platform secretary-general, when asked about Bobi Wine's remarks during his London performance, said that as an artist, Bobi Wine was free to express his opinions.
He added, “The party President is Kyagulanyi and the person singing in London is Bobi Wine. I don’t think I’m the right person to comment on a performance of an artiste. As an artiste, I think he is free to make any comments as he so wishes.”
