Kimaanya-Kabonera Division Member of Parliament, Dr. Abed Bwanika has attacked National Unity, NUP Party President Robert Kyagulanyi also known as Bobi Wine whom he accused of disparaging leaders.
“Stop attacking Katikkiro [Buganda Kingdom Prime Minister Charles Peter Mayiga]. I want you to look at me Mr Kyagulanyi, I have never done bad to you. Those people attacking us are your people. Stop killing our leaders. The Mpuuga you are attacking is a leader just like you. If we are doing politics, each of us should respect each other, you should stop abusing us and our leaders,” he said.
Bwanika made the remarks on Saturday during the burial of Pascal Ssekasamba, a brother to late Mathias Nsubuga Birekeraawo, a former MP of Bukoto South and DP’s Secretary General.
Bwanika accused Bobi Wine of sponsoring people who attack the Katikkiro, Mpuuga and other leaders in Buganda including himself.
The Kimaanya-Kabonera MP cited NUP deputy spokesperson, Waiswa Mufumbiro whom he said had made unfounded statements against him and his family , noting that all this happened while Bobi Wine was watching but never stopped the attacks.
He said similar attacks have happened , especially on social media against Katikkiro Mayiga from Kyagulanyi’s supporters.
“This is not the struggle we were saying Mr Kyagulanyi. Those youth who are abusing us are your children and anyone who wants to take me out of here you can do it. Kyagulanyi, stop killing our leaders.”
Bobi responds
In his speech, the NUP president denied the allegations made by Bwanika noting that he respects Mpuuga.
“Bwanika, I am not sure whether you love Mpuuga more than I do; it was I who appointed him as my vice president, it was I who appointed him as the Leader of the Opposition, it was I who appointed him a the Commissioner of Parliament and you it was I who made you to an MP,” he said.
“I am not doing these because of hatred, I can disagree with you but let us look at the bigger picture. People have hope in us and whatever we are doing now, these young children are looking and it is what they are going to do in future because people do not listen on what you told them but they follow what you are doing. I always respect Mpuuga and I have never mobilised anyone to hate him or abuse him and I always tell you not to do it.”
However, Mpuuga and Bwanika seemed not convinced by Kyagulanyi’s remarks.
The standoff between the NUP president and Kyagulanyi became pronounced when Mpuuga was implicated in receiving shs500 million as a service award for his time as Leader of Opposition.
Kyagulanyi termed it as illegal but Mpuuga insisted there was nothing wrong in getting the “service award.”
Mpuuga was consequently dropped as Leader of Opposition but also suspended as NUP Vice president for Buganda.
