Ugandan musician Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has apologized to Buganda Kingdom and to his fans for performing and campaigning for John Alintuma Nsambu, one of the candidates in the Bukoto South parliamentary by-election.
Two weeks ago, Bobi Wine performed at the launch of Nsambu’s campaigns at Kasana play ground in Kiseka Sub County in Lwengo district.
Nsambu, the ruling NRM party candidate in the race, hired Bobe Wine alongside other musicians Iryn Namubiru, Ragga Dee, and Bebe Cool, to boost his campaigns as he seeks to win the Bukoto South seat. Bobe Wine sang several songs praising Nsambu which were aimed at boosting the former ICT minister’s profile in the constituency.
However, ever since Bobi Wine performed at Nsambu’s rally, he has been under fire from Buganda loyalists and his music lovers who accuse him of associating with a man who belittled the Kabaka of Buganda. Recently, CBS threatened to stop playing his songs for allegedly praising Nsambu who is also accused of playing a big role in its closure during Buganda riots almost three years ago. During the protests that started after government blocked the Kabaka from visiting Kayunga district in October 2009, Nsambu reportedly said he would never kneel or prostrate before the Kabaka, a man like him.
Two years ago, Bobi Wine composed a song praising Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi, in which he describes himself as Omubanda Wa Kabaka-meaning Kabaka’s devoted servant.
On Saturday, Bobi Wine rushed to Kinoni town board in Bukoto South to apologize to his supporters and Buganda for associating with Nsambu. The artiste explained that he was misled to perform at Nsambu’s rally because the organizers confused him that he was performing at the rally for Yusuf Nsubuga Nsambu’s rally, a city lawyer, former and former Makindye East MP.
Bobi Wine knelt down and asked his fans, who had turned up for Mathias Nsubuga’s rally, to forgive him. Nsubuga is the Democratic Party candidate in the Bukoto South.
//Cue in: “Yah I came to clear my name…….
Cue out:……my kingdom.”//
Bobi Wine claimed that his decision to perform at Nsambu’s campaign rally affected him and his music sales and that’s why he decided to save his name.
Mukono Municipality MP Betty Nambooze and Denis Mukasa Mbidde, the DP Legal advisor and member of the East African Legislative Assembly, who threatened to incite Buganda loyalists to reject Bobi Wine’s music, said they had forgiven him. Nambooze, who was campaigning for Nsubuga, shook Bobi Wine’s hand and advised him not to deal with people like Nsambu.
Nsambu’s camp has declined to comment on Bobi Wine’s actions. The former minister said he was campaigning at Kalegero trading center and that he could not talk about such issues.
But Kintu Nyago, the Deputy Principal Private Secretary to the President, who is also camping in Masaka for the campaigns, said Nsambu is just victimized about the closure of CBS Radio.
Nyago said that President Yoweri Museveni personally ordered for the radio’s closure but not Nsambu. He explained that Museveni ordered Aggrey Awori, the former ICT Minister to close CBS for alleged incitement of violence during the 2009 Kabaka riots.
Nyago also advised Buganda to stop directly meddling in politics to avoid victimizing the Kabaka of Buganda.
The closure of CBS, the Buganda Kingdom mouthpiece, is used as a campaign tool against Nsambu with the DP candidate playing an audio clip in which Nsambu was threatening to close the radio.
The by-election takes place on Thursday.
