TAKEAWAYS

• Kyagulanyi says organization was NUP’s biggest weakness, despite successful voter sensitization and mobilization.

• He faulted some opposition leaders for prioritizing parliamentary and other elective positions instead of the broader struggle against President Museveni.

• He also criticized Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, describing him as someone who has benefited from his father’s influence rather than his own merit.

National Unity Platform (NUP) President Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has opened up about what he believes went wrong for his party during the previous general elections, saying poor organization ultimately undermined their efforts to unseat President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

Speaking during an interview with Kays while in the United States, where both are currently living, Kyagulanyi said the opposition had successfully achieved two of the three critical stages needed to challenge the ruling government but fell short on the final and most important step.

According to him, the first stage was awakening and sensitizing Ugandans about the need for change, which he believes the party accomplished effectively. The second was mobilizing supporters across the country, another area he says NUP handled well.

“The first step was awakening people, the second was mobilization, and I believe we did both successfully. Where we fell short was organization.”

Kyagulanyi argued that the lack of proper organization was not solely his failure but one shared by several leaders within the opposition movement.

He said many leaders became preoccupied with contesting parliamentary and other elective positions instead of rallying behind the broader objective of challenging President Museveni’s hold on power.

According to the former Kyadondo East MP, he repeatedly warned his colleagues that they were leaving him to confront the government almost single-handedly despite the President’s control over the military and key state institutions.

“I kept telling my comrades that they were leaving me to fight Museveni alone, yet he controls the army and virtually every institution of government.”

Despite the setback, Kyagulanyi said he remains optimistic that political change is still achievable if the opposition strengthens its internal organization. He added that his movement has not abandoned its mission, arguing that several factors—including what he described as President Museveni’s advanced age—could work in favour of the opposition in the future.

During the interview, Kyagulanyi was also asked about the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

He dismissed the army commander, saying he does not view him as a general in the conventional sense, but rather as someone who has benefited from his father’s influence throughout his career.

Kyagulanyi said he prefers not to spend much time discussing Gen. Kainerugaba but argued that many Ugandans believe he has enjoyed privileges that helped him attain the positions he currently holds.