One of the most painful pictures to watch is how men dressed in casual wear with masked faces, working under the auspices of public servants in security uniforms, furiously unleash terror onto Robert Kyagulanyi’s supporters.
The crime of their victims is simply supporting their candidate. Wielding the traditional cow-herding sticks from western Uganda, the enkoni, one would imagine they are protecting their cows from wild animals.
The enkoni traditionally renowned for fending off wild animals and snakes from attacking cattle. In truth, though, these men seem to see Kyagulanyi’s supporters as the wild animals coming after their harvest.
With all of them wielding the same weapon – it is indeed a weapon – it is telling that someone had a tender to deliver this choice weapon to the security forces. You don’t just randomly pick them off the street. This also means, there was a mission ahead of time to batter opposition supporters.
It is not just these beatings, but the wanton arrests are also very painful. By last week, the number of wanton arrests off the campaign trail had exceeded 500 people. (This is assuming that there is actually a good count – but the number is surely higher).
All these are violently plucked off a campaign trail before being charged with frivolous cases or kept entirely incommunicado. But equally painful for me is that the NUP presidential candidate is ready to brave through these beatings, teargas and arrests of his comrades to simply continue campaigning.
It looks like outstanding display of bravery, (and his team has reasons for it), but it also looks like bravery for bravery’s sake. Look, with a record number of 2021 supporters – arrested under similar circumstance – still behind bars, or only recently released, one questions this bravery’s end-game.
I noted a couple of weeks ago that (a) the impression created is that these “foot-soldiers” are just a footnote; that is, they don’t really matter to the campaign since it will continue moving.
I also wondered (b) why the Bobi Wine campaign seems unable to build around these wanton arrests and criminal beatings, and turn them into a campaign itself. This is especially true since going around the entire country campaigning doesn’t really matter to the general outcome of this rather pre-determined exercise.
WHAT DOES STRATEGIC BOYCOTT MEAN?
In line of the foregoing brutalities and pre-determined nature of results, I have been calling for series of strategic boycotts that would make the brutal system regulate itself – or set the entire country on a different trajectory.
I need to clarify from the very beginning that (a) to boycott does not mean returning home to sleep or watch from the sidelines. It actually means engaging the system differently – at a level way higher than normal participation. It means more creativity, more radical politics. More seriousness.
(b) A boycott is a form of politics. It is perhaps even more serious than simply participating the normal way. Notice also that not every Dick and Harry are in position to boycott and cause impact.
Some boycotts are entirely insignificant, while others actually have impact. More importantly, to engage in a boycott is to (c) step away from the Yoweri Museveni electoral calendar and be more active throughout: It means doing what Dr Spire Ssentongo has done with #Exhibitions; Male Mabirizi with his ceaseless court petitions; Agartha Atuhaire’s focus on parliament. it is to Advocate Isaac Ssemakadde “banging the table” politics. It is to be more creative with the spaces available.
There has never been free space for revolutionary politics. Often, actors carve out these spaces for themselves either online or in the streets of major cities. Notice that these unconventional political approaches aren’t guarantees for victory. (Maybe just better than electoral politics).
But they need to be engaged constantly and repeatedly. Look, if we are endlessly returning to these pre-determined elections, why not escalate “banging the tables” the #Exhibitions, and crowdfund for Male Mabirizi even more to incentivise others? And be creative in much more and committed ways?
WHY BOBI WINE
As the leading opposition candidate – the target for all brutalities – Bobi Wine (with due respect to the other contenders) is the only real endorsement of a Museveni victory. You need to beat a champ to be seen as great.
Thus, a Bobi Wine boycott does not only mean embarrassment to the entire electoral process, but also means an even deeper scare for YKM and team: What is BW’s next move?” they would be wondering.
It will mean the system committing more crimes in the fear of the unknown. They might call to put him under house arrest. But consider this: with nominations completed, it follows that if all other candidates – especially Bobi Wine, Muntu and Nandala – chose not to continue their campaigns or abandon the election completely before all political prisoners were released and arrests and brutalities stopped, it means, the other three candidates will be under pressure not to join the movement.
If all of them joined, then Museveni would be running against himself. This is no victory. To escalate the moment, NUP, ANT and FDC would pull all their parliamentary and local council candidates from the campaigns.
They would be meeting at their headquarters to deliberate, address the press on the next steps. Of course, police would then make their gatherings impossible even at their offices. But this would be the beginning of a long and arduous journey for the entire system they have so meticulously curated over the years.
Anyways, my suggestions here barely pass the test. But there are more creative folks in these parties who would emerge with legally protected, smarter, non-conventional ideas.
The problem presently is that the leadership has conditioned all their creative potential to an electoral calendar – a pantomime, as comrade Busingye Kabumba called it.
yusufkajura@gmail.com
The author is a political theorist based at Makerere University.
Boycotts never work. Dictators only respond to pressure—whether from the gun or from the overwhelming force of the masses. Even if Bobi Wine chose to boycott, Nandala wouldn’t, and Mao would still stand. It’s a losing strategy. The most effective path is for all of us to turn up and vote in huge numbers, making rigging extremely difficult—just as we have seen in several by-elections where the opposition still won despite the challenges
Mawanda, the ongoing discussion about whether the NUP/Kyagulanyi, should participate in the upcoming 2026 presidential election highlights a fundamental strategic challenge: the “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” scenario.
A key point of debate revolves around the impact of other opposition figures, such as Nandala or Mao, choosing to stand even if the NUP boycotts. The argument is often made that if Kyagulanyi truly has overwhelming “people power,” the presence of other candidates should be strategically irrelevant.
This perspective raises critical questions about the perceived value of participation:
(a) Does Kyagulanyi’s candidacy gain a tangible benefit simply by existing alongside those of other opposition figures and M7? (b) Specifically, what political or strategic advantage does the NUP gain by participating in an electoral process that they and their supporters frequently describe as fundamentally “bogus,” “rigged,” and marked by disproportionate state violence directed solely at their movement?
Ultimately, those of us who advocate for a boycott argue that participating lends legitimacy to a system that is inherently flawed, while those you who advocate for participation believe it is the only way to maintain political visibility and mobilize the populace. The core question remains: Does standing in a contested [bogus and violent] environment yield sufficient returns to justify the risks?
Mr Robert Mawanda , you are one of millions of Ugandans who dare to reason. Even a thief should know what they have stolen and from who . This is a protest vote . How will Museveni know what Ugandans really think of him if there is no countable or visible evidence ?
A few months before he was chased out of Office and jailed together with his son , Hosni Mubarac had won an election by 83% . The current president of Egypt , who was one of Mubarac`s confidants and army boss , had quietly told him that those 80+ percentages were made up to make the president look good , but the real truth was that the president had lost the vote
People can say what they want , but the real truth is that Bobi Wine Kyagulanyi has scared the S out of these people. They are all decked up from head to toe pressing all panic buttons just because of one young man standing on top of his car only armed with a small flag ? Amazing !
Whatever happens , history will have it that Museveni has had only two men that scare and are not afraid of him : Dr.Kiiza Besigye and Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi.
Jes, “How will Museveni know what Ugandans really think of him if there is no countable or visible evidence?”
So, key pieces of evidence and events widely reported by external sources do not amount countable and visible evidence? The 2021 bogus and violent election is not countable or visible evidence. Over 200 innocent Ugandans killed in November 2020 doesn’t make M7 know what Ugandans think of him, right? The current and ongoing violence and killing of innocent Ugandans, and abduction and incarceration of Edie Mutwe, Olivia Lutaya and others is not countable and visible evidence, right? Dr. Besigye and Lutale abduction and continuation incarceration is not countable and visible evidence, right?
Human rights organizations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International consistently document a restrictive human rights environment, arbitrary killings, and a lack of accountability for security forces, is not countable evidence, right?
Jes, given these widely publicized events and reports from a variety of sources, the premise that there is no “countable or visible evidence” of public opinion or government actions is highly and generally contradicted by the above extensive documentation and public record.
I have already established that you do not and cannot understand metaphors .
So please go ahead and answer your own questions , and repeat them as many times as you wish
Jes, the premise that ‘Museveni has no countable or visible evidence of what Ugandans really think of him’ is contradicted by the extensive documentation and public record. Facts and irrefutable evidence remain as such, regardless of repetition or frequency of occurrence.
So, the argument questioning how President Museveni could know the will of the people without ‘countable or visible evidence’ overlooks a substantial body of existing documentation. Events such as the widely contested 2021 election, the November 2020 killings of protesters, and the documented arrests and abductions of opposition figures represent concrete, public evidence that challenges that premise.
Jes, the truth of the matter is, debate exists within Uganda’s political landscape regarding NUP’s approach to elections and its use of the ‘protest vote’ narrative. Allegations have been raised by some party insiders and critics claiming that fundraising drives tied to election cycles lack transparency and serve personal financial interests. NUP leaders have countered these claims, stating that all funds are necessary for legitimate party activities and campaigning. However, alternative perspective suggests that the NUP’s ongoing participation in elections, despite past claims of ‘meaningless’ outcomes, is a strategic choice driven by the need for financial viability or making money. According to this argument, securing parliamentary seats provides access to essential public funding allocated to political parties, which can then be used to sustain the movement and its leadership.
Doc, “I need to clarify from the very beginning that (a) to boycott does not mean returning home to sleep or watch from the sidelines.” Personally, that’s exactly what I wish we need to do.
To me bogus and violent elections are meaningless. As the saying goes, “Tu tuuze niya.” Let us sit near and demand that (a) M7, his family, relatives and militants must go, now. That means that M7, his family, relatives and militants shouldn’t be in charge and/or participate in elections in any way shape or form. (b) A neutral interim government should be put in place to organize a free and fair election in only 2 years. (c) Anyone in the interim government should not stand in any elective position of the elections organized by them. (d) Restore, forthwith, presidential term limits and a federo system of govt in our constitution.
In other words, we, Ugandans, should boycott, forthwith, any political election(s) of any kind, and demand M7’s immediate exit.
The fact of the matter is, we have never elected M7, his family, relatives, tribesmen and militants as our leaders. Never ever.
M7, his family, relatives and tribesmen grabbed the gun, went to the bush and used violence to capture out state. For 40 year and/or as militants who captured power since 1986, they have maintained corruption, nepotism, tribalism and violence as a way of governing our nation. The entire system is irreparably rotten to the core. There is no meaningful election organized while M7, his family, relatives and militants are still in power, that will ever yield the desired, needed and deserved change in our country. We must excise people power in order to assert our power as the people. That’s what people power is all about if at all we’re to protest.
This is the most confused article Yusuf has put out in recent times. That would be okay if it was not laced with facetiousness.
At this point , is there any Ugandans who really really believes that if you boycott , bang tables or issue radical statements , you will EMBARASS the System and FORCE it to REGULATE itself !!!! ( now , that is the REAL JOKE)
Is there any adult in Uganda who really really believes that NUP would pull out and then meet at their HQ to deliberate and address the press on their next move …?!
What else is Yusuf saying : boycott , but don`t boycott : be brave , but not for bravely`s sake ;confront, brave through tear gas and beating but what pains ME is that NUP president SIMPLY continues to campaign while his comrades are in jails
This is the same Yusuf had just wondered why NUP had not followed his advice but was unable to build around these wanton arrests and beatings and turn them into a campaign itself . In other words , Yusuf is telling NUP that it is wrong to campaign when many of your comrades are under detention , but also right to campaign because they are in jails. Wow !
If I did not rate Dr.Yusuf Sserunkuma higher than his flip flopping , I wouldn`t feel so disappointed .
Here is he calling for seriousness , by writing things that make little or no sense.
Who told Yusuf that if Dr.Spire , Mabirizi , Agartha Atuhaire and Ssemakadde resort to creative means for change , others cannot try something else ?
According to Yusuf , boycott is a form of politics . He then goes on cutting it into small pieces for slow ones to understand .
Back in the day , he had this to say:
“..they ( Uganda scholars) have only gotten into a web of obfuscated realities , focused on terminologies and micro-manifestations of phenomena and they are terribly afraid of confronting the biggest elephant in the room..”
Dr.Yusuf Sserunkuma must be one of very few Ugandans who think that “embarrassing Museveni and his tribal outfit is an affective strategy
Dr., Dr. at least you have the sense of humanity and compassion, to express yourself the way you do. But if it is an appeal to the perpetrators of violence, to stop the inhumane treatment of innocent Ugandans, as though they are part of the “First Herdsman’s” cattle; your voice is like the proverbial “loud fart in the desert storm”, or lonely voice in the wilderness.
Otherwise, Ugandans are under a psychopathic, cold-bloody iron grip of a self-confessed AUTHOR and MASTER OF VIOLENCE.
E.g., on 16 May 2017, the Observer carried a story Headlined: Torturing Suspects must Stop, and quoted our 85-years-old PROBLEM OF AFRICA, Gen Tibuhaburwa saying; “… the use of torture is unnecessary and wrong and must not be used again if it was being used as I see some groups claiming in the media …”
That was over 8 years ago. But including his son, Gen MK torturing the Eddy Mutwe of this country in his basement; since then has the “organized torture and murder” of Ugandans stopped? NYET!
It became worse and degenerated into the Nov 2020 massacre, the self-confessed December 2020, extrajudicial coldblooded murder of Boxer Zebra Ssengange (RIP) and the disappearances of the Kibalama of this country.
In other words, Gen Tibuhaburwa practices what he condemns. When he talks about peace, it means violence. When he talked about the “Fundamental Change” on 26th Jan 1986, it was a concealed NO CHAMGE, which became the 2006 PUBLIC Election campaign slogan.
In 2016, during his swearing in, when he talked about Hakuna Muchezo on Corruption he signalled the GREEN LIGHT to his agents of corruption. Hence according to the IGG, Beti O Kamya, the corruption digit went up to 10 trillion per year.
Simply put, the man does not mean what he says, nor says what he means. When Mr. M7 and his NRA embarked on subversion and/or terrorism in 1981; Obote (RIP) categorically told Ugandans that the man is not only a consummate liar, but a killer.
And therefore, since the majority of Ugandans, especially the people of Buganda and specifically in Luweero, to whom Gen Tibuhaburwa DEMONIZED Obote dismissed Obote’s caution; it is too late to complain.
Remase indeed you have a point. If there is a proper boycott against M7’s dodgy national elections, of course that will be a better point made in the history of this country. If the next day after a successful boycott this African dictator comes out shouting victory to the whole world, well that is what he has always been doing. For the current political opposition with their brands of political parties that is greedy with M7’s tax payers money, they will not be recognized officially! Of course it will hurt their finances. But that is what has been happening all along for many years and counting. And that is why they continue to cross over in great numbers to the government side and sing NRM songs. It is unfortunate that the Kingdom state of Buganda has effectively been neutralized by a Ganda political party it formulated to stay put in the country of Uganda. Good that NUP and its supporters are being given a lesson in how it is impossible to unite Uganda by telling citizens democratic rhetoric of lies. The people of Arua, Western provinces, and Eastern provinces are making their political case clear. They do not want the Ganda tribal fraternity of Bobi Wine to govern or lead them in a Ugandan country that is stationed at State house Entebbe. In a country they believe to have a stake. Most probably they would rather be ruled, governed or lead by themselves. These boycott fanatics of Uganda have surely not broken any electrol law of Byamukama when they chase Bobi Wine and his entourage from their territories!
Haven`t you said this before ?
Do you have anything new ?
Question : does Kabayekka agree with what Yusuf has suggested . namely . a strategic political boycott or not ?
Remase may have a point , but he is not the author of the master plan .
Jes, correct me if I’m wrong, you are entitled to your opinion whether I agree with it or not, right? Do you need to be the author of the article in order to agree or to disagree with Yusuf?
Jes, gwe ki ekipya kyo yogedde kyo tayogera nga ko? Could you point out what is new about your comments, which you have not said before. In other words, do you have anthing new?
What you have written is deeply disappointing and intellectually dishonest. On what basis do you label NUP a “Ganda party”? By the same logic, why has FDC never been called a Muhororo party, or UPC an Acholi party?
This kind of primitive, divisive tribal framing has done immense damage to Uganda’s politics and must be rejected outright. Bobi Wine’s politics are about change, accountability, and generational renewal—not ethnicity. His personal history, political alliances, and policy positions consistently demonstrate a deliberate break from tribal politics.
I challenge you to name any political party in Uganda today that is more cosmopolitan than NUP. Historically, DP became largely confined to Masaka, UPC to Lango, and the NRM has effectively turned into a family and patronage network. Only FDC made a serious attempt to build and sustain a genuinely national character.
Reducing NUP to an ethnic label is not only inaccurate; it is a deliberate attempt to distract from the substance of its message and the momentum it represents
Mr. Mawanda , brother Kabayekka( Kabakayekka?) is confused . He probably thinks that he can confuse others .
This is a brother that has sustained a lie by pretending to be a Muganda loyalist who is here to defend and promote Buganda nationalism . I thought it would be just a matter of time before this pretense mask thinned out , and it has .
Of late , like the author of the above article , has joined the anti-NUP / People Power choir , chorusing off-key crap.
But when he now declares that there is nothing wrong with other tribes chasing away Bobi Wine and Baganda from their territories , believe him . He joins Mapenduzi , Rwomushana and other scare-mongers .
Unfortunately for this gang , the present generation has moved on -away from tribal inferiority or superiority complexities.
Millions of Ugandans from all tribes and ethnicities have welcomed Kyagulanyi and NUP . There is absolutely no sign that Ugandans are listening to Kabayekka `s tribal mongering . If anything , they see and know that 67% of the most important positions / jobs belong to 8% ethnic tribe .
UPDF headed by Kainerugaba , spokes person : Magyezi. Uganda Police Force headed by Byakagaba , spokes person: Rusokye Kituuma. Uganda Prisons Service headed by Byabashaija , spokesperson: Twine. EC , headed by Byomukama, spokesperson: Mucunguzi . 82% of Police DPCs come from the same tribe.
Then you find people here making silly statements that NUP is Uganda`s problem ! NUP that is calling on Ugandans to unite and fight for their rights is the problem? “Ganda” that are the only tribe that elects non -baganda over their own tribesmen and tribes women is the one that must be chased away from other territories ?!
I mean how silly are we going to get ?
So , in other words , General Tibuhaburwa practices what he condemns ; when he talks peace , he means violence; the man does not mean what he says, nor say what he means..
On 16 May 2017. OBSERVER carried a story headlined : TORTURING SUSPECTS MUST STOP. 8 years later , the son still tortures Eddie Mutwe , threatens to behead Bobi Wine and declares that Dr.Besigye will only leave Luzira inside of a coffin
Then , in comes a lonely voice in the wilderness – with a master plan:
Do a political boycott and embarrass Tibuhaburwa and his son and their system into regulating itself or set the entire country on a different trajectory .LOL !!!!1
The same voice is heard calling out Kyagulanyi not to be brave for bravely`s sake
I was going to say that I see no compassion or sense of humanity here. When people are getting ambushed , gassed , beaten up , shot dead , jailed for years without being brought before courts of law ; when goons are left free to cause havoc against their fellow citizens and nothing happens… and then I come to OBSEVER to read an article that is saying this is a JOKE , with lines that say that there is no violence , followed a week later by yet another one with a content that is hard to make sense out of it….I step back and feel like wondering if this is voice in the wilderness …is simply not a mocking voice that is “voicing for voicing`s sake “
The question of boycotting is, unfortunately, a foregone conclusion. Here, I quote the 8th Jan 2025 interview Rubongoya (the Secretary General of NUP) had with The Observer reporter; where He categorically states that, NUP can’t boycott polls! asserting that boycotting would only hand easy victory to Museveni. That was a bombshell! Therefore, convincing them to abandon/take on a new strategy will be an uphill task. I only wish you “Good luck”!
Hassan, I hate to agree with you, in fact, Lubongoya said that even if Kyagulanyi is the only man who remains standing, NUP shall go to the polls! Kyagulanyi also added that even if he is killed, they should take his body to state house. This is like WWE, in which Rey Mysterio JR insists to fight Brock Lesnar for a WWE championship belt/title! Not only that Lesnar [M7] is the most violent and destructive individual on the planet, who knows no rule, Mysterio JR is a teenager with no chance whatsoever to win Lesnar. We all know that WWE is in the business of making money. Likewise, Kyagulanyi/NUP are only interested in making money. So, NUP’s leadership has indicated a firm commitment to contesting the election regardless of opposition dynamics or M7/NRM’s guaranteed win. Kyagualnyi clearly knows that the contest is known as an asymmetric confrontation due to the vast power disparity and institutional advantages held by M7. M7 is characterized by a willingness to employ state militants/violence and operate outside established democratic norms. Kyagulanyi lacks the necessary institutional weight to defeat the entrenched M7 through the [designed] bogus and violent electoral process.
Therefore, the continuous campaign is motivated more by resource mobilization and maintaining political visibility than a genuine path to outright electoral victory.
Remase, what are you refuting? There is Bwino! Its simple, just type “rubongoya on boycotting elections” in google. The story iam alluding to is the first to appear, read it. I believe the the Observer didn’t make up the interview!
Hasan, despite a personal reluctance to agree, borne from a strong desire for alternative facts, the evidence necessitates a difficult concession. The leadership of the National Unity Platform (NUP), specifically Kyagulanyi and Rubongoya, appear committed to continuing their campaign and participating in the upcoming polls, even in the face of significant violence and loss of life. The central critique of this strategy is that participation guarantees defeat, yet the grounds for protest are already established. The prevailing violence and evidence of a non-free and fair electoral environment provide sufficient justification to challenge the legitimacy of the process immediately [protest], rather than waiting for an inevitable loss.
Put it differently, Kyagulanyi and Rubongoya are marching the party toward a foregone conclusion. Their insistence on participating in a demonstrably rigged election, despite ongoing state-sponsored violence and the loss of innocent lives, appears strategically flawed. The argument is clear: the systemic violence and lack of free and fair conditions are already reason enough to trigger a mass protest or boycott now. Proceeding to the polls to formalize a guaranteed loss is an unnecessary step; the true ‘trigger’ for action is already evident in the regime’s repressive tactics.
What is unfortunate is that someone as intelligent , as informed as analytical as experienced as Dr Yusuf Sserunkuma comes out with such a ridiculous plan: boycott , embarrass the entire electoral process and deeply scare YKM and team .
For God`s sake , how do you expect to embarrass (into self regulating) someone who has, for 40 years ,told and shown you that he has no conscience ? Why isn´t such a suggestion the “bombshell” !!!
It should be more than clear that General Museveni is not into soul searching . He switched off that attribute 60 years ago.
Fortunately , even if Rubongoya is not conviced to abandon this and that , he cannot stop anybody else who decides to enforce the political boycott strategy . We are all in this BS together .
Tooo Much Noise for Nothing!!! Animal Farm re-visited!! The 86 Year Old Butcher of Luwero Deceived the Whole World that a Sitting Government of Milton Obote was Killing its own Citizens!He Systematically Killed 1.000.000 Ugandans and Abducted their Land and Belongings! People like Yusuf were Trained in Kyakwanzi to Play the Ikondere!! Music for Deception!..He Will Kill More come 2026 and Claim Protecting the Loot! Stop This Nonsense of Confusion!! The Rwandese are the Israelis Of East Africa Bent on Killing Everybody to sustain the Status Quo!!..m23 are Trained in Bihanga and Train Killing on Ugandans in Muhoozi’ s Basement!! Muve mu nzikiza and Reclaim your Country!
In other words Kalibala, as the self-confessed AUTHOR and MASTER OF VIOLENCE, who in his/her right state of mind can still DENY that; our 85-years-old PROBLEM OF AFRICA and his NRA, PRACTICED and MASTERED the art of violence/genocide in Luweero and exported it to RWANDA and DRC through the RPA/F and BY extension the current menace of the M23: that is well funded, trained, armed with the latest and modern warfare equipment, which the DRC government can’t afford ?
Kalibbala, a previous conversation in this column included an assertion that Yusuf was driving a state-provided expensive car, but no evidence was provided to support that claim. In the interest of maintaining factual discussion, could you please provide specific evidence regarding when and where Yusuf was trained in Kyankwanzi, who conducted the training, and the nature of the training program? Clear documentation would help clarify the basis of your statement. Could you share information on the date, location, and the specifics of the training he underwent? I mean, it would be more informative if you provided the aforesaid information.