- Bobi Wine criticized President Yoweri Museveni for avoiding the NMG presidential debate, calling it a sign of neglect
- The debate brought together many 2026 candidates, but Museveni’s absence left important questions about his record unanswered.
- Bobi Wine challenged the NRM’s claims of “protecting profits,” citing failed public services and alleged rights abuses
- The forum also witnessed opposition candidates discussing strategy, with Bobi Wine emphasizing his position to lead in front of a crowded race
National Unity Forum (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has strongly criticized President Yoweri Museveni.
Source: Facebook
Bobi did not hold back when he criticized Museveni who boycotted the much-anticipated presidential debate organized by the Nation Media Group (NMG).
What question did Bobi Wine have to ask Museveni?
The debate, held at the Serena Hotel, brought together many presidential candidates Uganda of 2026, but it clearly lacked the presence of the incumbent president, who has ruled the country for more than four decades.
Bobi, widely regarded as Museveni’s staunch opponent, said he was prepared to confront the President directly over what he described as decades of uncontrolled governance.
“I had high hopes of meeting General Museveni here so that I could face him in public and hear what he wants to tell us after 40 years in power,” Kyagulanyi said.
The young opposition leader admitted that Museveni had the right to boycott the debate but described his absence as an example.
He explained that his absence showed Museveni was not part of the future of the country, indicating his readiness to lead Uganda after Museveni.
“It is his right not to be here because he is in the past, and we are discussing the future of our country,” he said.
Why did Bobi Wine criticize Museveni’s slogan?
The absence of Museveni, who is campaigning under the National Resistance Movement’s (NRM) slogan of “Protecting Income,” drew sharp criticism from Bobi Wine.
He questioned what the so-called profits actually represent, pointing to deteriorating public services and alleged human rights abuses under the NRM leadership.
“Is he protecting holes? Is he protecting rotten hospitals? Is he protecting crumbling schools, crumbling infrastructure? Is he protecting his power and his right to torture civilians? I expected to hear that publicly from General Museveni,” he said.
Source: Facebook
Critics have argued that the NRM slogan refers more to protecting the wealth accumulated by the political elite than to real national development.
However, Museveni emphasizes that it focuses on Uganda’s economic growth, citing an increase from 3.9 billion dollars in 1986 to 66 billion dollars in 2025, with the goal of reaching a middle-income economy worth 500 billion dollars.
The debate also served as a platform for opposition candidates to discuss strategy and possible alliances and questions were raised about whether others would unite behind Bobi Wine.
Despite the discussions, Bobi Wine asserted his dominance in Uganda’s opposition scene, directly appealing to voters, imploring them to support his campaign as the best way to end decades of entrenched rule.
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