Bobi Wine in a red beret In his memoir Revolution 2.0: The power of people is greater than the people in power (2013), Wael explains that it’s people power that turned around Egypt’s fortunes.

In Uganda, the people power slogan used by Kyagulanyi was apparently registered by the Uganda Meritocracy Party in 2016. The party, which is not known to many Ugandans, is now preparing to launch countrywide activities and is holding talks with Bobi Wine over the use of the slogan.

The party’s acting vice president and spokesperson Simon Peter Ouma says they have not stopped Bobi Wine from using the slogan because he’s championing the same interests that they will also be promoting.

 
“For us as the party leadership, we have no problem with somebody using the slogan people power. Why we came out, we were told that somebody scratched an anthill . We have no problem with Kyagulanyi or whoever to use people power as a slogan. Kyagulanyi’s vision and Kyagulanyi’s ideology fall under the interest of [Uganda] Meritocracy. Him using it [slogan] is not a problem. Out problem was in regard to that individual [music promote Balaam Barugahare] who had come out to constrain other Ugandans from using that word.” said Ouma. 
 
UMP was swift to warn the Uganda Registration Service Bureau (URSB) and events manager Balaam Barugahare when news emerged that he had registered a charity organisation called People Power to look after the elderly. But Balaam denied the reports.

“It has come to our attention that Balaam Barugahare one of the businessmen in Kampala has registered a non-government organisation in the name of people power and has immediately threatened any individual/group who attempts to use the above name dire consequences,” the party acting secretary for legal affairs, Wambogo said in a letter dated January 19.

 
Barugahare was captured on video boasting how he has registered and gazetted the people power slogan and the red colour. In the same video, he mocked Bobi Wine for being politically naive saying he would not allow anyone to use the slogan or the red colour most especially for politics. The music promoter is very close to the ruling party establishment and this was seen by many commentators as an attempt by the NRM to block Bobi Wine’s political aspirations. Bobi Wine has since told CNN that his camp is “seriously considering standing against President Yoweri Museveni in 2021.” 

Wambogo said they only came out so as to remind to Barugahare that he did not have a monopoly over the words people power because the slogan had already been registered. Wambogo said they don’t want to be seen as if they are fighting Bobi Wine, who already acknowledged in their meetings that he was using their slogan.
 
“We people in the Uganda Merito Party we wouldn’t love a situation where we would be seen as trying to fight each other. UMP vs MP Kyagulanyi’s ideology or whatever. He [Bobi Wine] accepted that he knows the owners of UMP in Uganda and the owners of the slogan, people power in Uganda. He’s very much aware of that. To be sincere, as gentlemen, we had a meeting with him, [and] we made it very clear that look here; we’re the owners of the slogan – love it or don’t love it and anyone who attempts to use it without our clearance calls for action to be taken against him.” said Wambogo. 
 
Wambogo said those interested in the people power slogan should join the Uganda Meritocracy Party. He warned that the party will not let anyone use or misuse their slogan without their permission. He added that talks with Bobi Wine are still on going and Ugandans will soon be informed of the final outcome.

 
“As a party, we invite any member of the public to join us in Uganda Merit party if you enjoy our slogan, if you enjoy our name, you can join us and we work together. We’re not refusing any person, but what we’re saying is that we’re not going to allow anyone jump up and abuse the name; people power which is out slogan and yet we gazetted it, we reserved it and we communicated officially to the electoral commission that that is out slogan.” said Wambogo. 
 
The party founders seem to be a bunch of youth who remain evasive on questions of their operations. Our reporter met the acting party leaders at City House, Kampala and they promised to unveil the party office by end of February.

“We are young people from eastern, northern, central and western regions of Uganda. We have come together to determine public policy and win elections. Restoring the lost glory and pride of the pearl of Africa is our priority,” the party brochure reads.

The party philosophy, the brochure says, is a state based on merit, equality, freedom, democracy and social justice and rule of law.

“We maintain that the best should be in charge, and all Ugandans should have equal opportunities to acquire skills and demonstrate their innovations and talent,” the brochure reads.