KAMPALA – Butambala County MP Muwanga Kivumbi has said the People Power Movement led by Mr Robert Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine, is a unique brand that will transform Uganda’s politics.
According to Mr Kivumbi, unlike other political parties, People Power is not based on patronage, one-man political parties which die when their leaders also retire.
“Unlike any other political movement in Uganda, people power isn’t a group for elites cutting deals in Kampala, it’s from the grassroots, born out of reality. The thing we’re walking away from as Ugandans is patronage, even that of political institutions. What we’re trying to do is reach the grassroots. Robert Kyagulanyi is a product of the people, the candidate for the people. The sooner we put that to bed and find ways of doing away with Museveni, the better,” he said on Monday during the breakfast show on NBS TV.
The MP’s remarks come after he was appointed as a People Power coordinator by Bobi Wine last week.
Mr Kivumbi added that he hopes that People Power gets lower cadres to make sure “we have an enviable mass structure; to which bribery will not work and the state can’t intimidate”.
He also dismissed claims that the People Power Movement is at odds with the Democratic Party. At the weekend, Dr Abed Bwanika, one of the leaders in the DP alliance, said that Bobi Wine rushed the process of naming People Power Movement leaders. Dr Bwanika revealed that Bobi Wine is not ‘the People Power’ and in this he had no power to appoint its leaders.
But Mr Kivumbi said: “I don’t think there’s a negative sentiment between DP and People Power. Uganda is ready for change, what is left is for us to agree to work together. When we disagree, we must find ways of discussing this. We can’t subject the future of our country to a conversation from one person. What ought to be done is to build confidence. Was will, however, kill what we’re building is any sign of disagreement. Working together doesn’t mean that we’re friends, it just means we’re heading the same direction.”