National Unity Platform (NUP) lawyer and Kira Municipality Member of Parliament–elect George Musisi has said that the temporary exit of former NUP presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, from Uganda does not create a leadership void within the party.
Speaking on NBS Morning Breeze on Monday, Musisi emphasized that Kyagulanyi will continue participating in party activities even while outside the country.
“Hon. Kyagulanyi doesn’t leave a void in NUP. He will still be engaging in party activities but outside the country,” he said.
Musisi noted that concerns about Kyagulanyi’s safety remain significant, claiming the opposition leader has faced serious threats.
“It’s not in doubt that Hon. Kyagulanyi’s life has been at threat. His home still has armed men with access restricted,” he added.
Drawing comparisons with historic political struggles, Musisi said leaders sometimes step back strategically during periods of confrontation.
“Every struggle reaches a point where the leader makes strategic moves. Even Nelson Mandela at some point had to disappear to make moves behind the scenes,” he said.
He also highlighted that NUP’s strength lies in its message and broad membership.
“The strength of NUP partly lies in the message we send and the membership. Our DNA is People Power,” Musisi said, referencing the party’s popular political slogan.
Kyagulanyi announced on Saturday that he is temporarily leaving Uganda after more than eight weeks operating from undisclosed locations, saying the trip aims to boost international engagement regarding the election outcome.
“I am announcing my brief exit from the country to handle important work. Over the next few weeks, I will engage with our friends in the diaspora before returning to Uganda to continue the push for freedom and democracy,” he said in a social media video.
During his absence, Kyagulanyi appointed NUP Vice President for Western Uganda, Dr. Lina Zedriga Waru, who recently returned from prison, as acting party president.
Kyagulanyi, who has been in hiding since the day after the January 15 election, said he evaded “snatch squads” amid a heavy military presence around his residence.
“The regime has looked for me everywhere. They have raided the homes of many colleagues, well, they couldn’t find me because the people of Uganda sheltered me and protected me,” he said.
Since the election, Kyagulanyi has rejected the results, describing them as “fake,” and accused the Electoral Commission of announcing results without providing the required Declaration of Results forms, though no substantial evidence has been presented.
He has also opted not to challenge the results in court, citing lack of faith in the judiciary, instead calling for peaceful protests in solidarity against what he terms a stolen election.
Government officials have dismissed claims of political persecution. The Minister for Information and Communications Technology and National Guidance, Chris Baryomunsi, stated that the state has no intention of arresting or harming Kyagulanyi.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja urged him to return home. Security deployments around his Magere residence, Baryomunsi said, are intended to prevent the home from becoming a hub for public disorder, not to threaten or detain him.
