Makerere Community Church’s Pastor Martin Ssempa has accused Kyadondo East MP cum singer Robert Kyagulanyi also known as Bobi Wine of distorting a religious song into suit into his own political interests.
Bobi Wine unveiled his new Tuliyambala engule song at the Enkuuka yo’mwaka fete on December 31 but Ssempa has said the song is a distortion of the Born Again heritate.
“Let Bobi Wine compose new political songs for his campaign! I refuse to participate in the distortion and mutilation of our collective balokole heritage for Bobi Wine political campaigns,”Ssempa said on his twitter account.
“I wish him well, just let him compose "another rap" suitable for the "battle".”
The ‘Tuliyambala engule’ song features other musicians including, Nubian Lee, Pastor Wilson Bugembe, Irene Ntale,Dr. Hilder man and Ronald Mayinja among others and it talks about a better country that is yet to be achieved.
However, Pastor Ssempa believes the singer has changed both the meaning and message of a revival Born Again song to suit his own political interests.
“What is the impact of turning a gospel worship song into a political party song,”Ssempa wonders.
“The politicization of our sacred worship songs is not good. Adding the rastaman "Yagayagayo" to the sacred texts of our sacred song distorts their meaning and mutilates its holy dignity! Bobi Wine can compose his own songs from the #Firebase studios.”
The man of God says it is wrong for Bobi Wine to equate himself to Jesus, the messiah of Jerusalem in the new song saying he can never equate to the son of God.
“Now Bobi Wine tells us that the new Jerusalem is not heaven but when he becomes Uganda's president. He holds himself as the future messiah who replaces Jesus!”
Mixed reaction
Pastor Ssempa’s comments have however received mixed reactions from his followers on twitter.
One Brian the Mixologist asked Ssempa to back off Kyagulanyi.
“You can release your own song and interpret it the way u want,” he retorted.
Another follower told the pastor that everyone is implored to use what they have at their disposal to achieve what they want.
“You use what you have to change the world. Moses used a mere stick to rescue the Israelites. And sometimes it's good to think beyond the nose,” one Ayyah Blue responded.
“I wish you first declared your interests. For starters, this so called spokesman of Balokole was appointed by the regime as a member of the Anti-pornography committee. How sure are we that yo not saying all this to appease the appointing authority,” said one Steven Kizire who goes by the nickname sober muzzukulu on twitter.
However, other followers supported Ssempa’s claims saying what Bobi Wine did was wrong and unacceptable.
“I have seen the video and it's simply insulting. Would the MTN or Nile Breweries simply do a rendition of "Amazing Grace" song to promote their products? Why would Bobi and Wilson Bugembe get this far, to insult Balokole,”said one Isaac Eyalama.
One Eric Erima noted, “Pastor I'm totally with you. Our beautiful old hymn 'when the battle is over' is being turned into a political slogan. I find it a kind of mockery to the true meaning of the song.”
