The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Andrew Mwenda, the Managing Director of Independent Publications Limited and a leading political commentator, has registered as a member of the National Unity Platform (NUP) and says he seeks a ticket to be its president and presidential candidate in next year’s election.
Soon after People Power’s Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine announced NUP as their political vehicle, he said the party had held a delegates conference early in July at which he was elected president and flag bearer.
Mwenda however insists that “there should be a delegates conference to elect a party leader and I will contest.”
After he received his membership card, he insisted that, “I noticed that many assume Bobi Wine is the sole presidential candidate by anointment. That also must be rejected.”
Mwenda’s decision to go to the NUP offices followed an argument on live TV this morning on NBS, where he said he can prove that the ‘new’ party was intolerant, and would not allow him register.
After the show, he drove to Kamwokya to register, and later admitted he was surprised they allowed him to.
HE EXPLAINS WHY
Letter to People Power – NUP
So today I went to the head office of NUP expecting to be lynched!
I was prepared to die at the hands of what I thought was largely a collection of intolerant radical extremists.
To my surprise, and except for a few noisy radicals, the young people I met there received me well and with overt excitement.
I went to NUP to register as a member, pick forms to be nominated as candidate for both party leadership and party presidential candidate! I will be running against Bobi Wine for both positions.
Some radicals tried to threaten me but some young ladies held their ground and told them off that I am a citizen of Uganda and welcome to join NUP. I was impressed.
So now I formally declare my intention to seek both the presidency of NUP and to be the party presidential candidate in the next elections.
I will bring civility, strategy, policy awareness, political depth, military and security knowledge and connections, regional and international experience, a large network of contacts across the country, region and globe, and the best fundraising skills the opposition in Uganda desperately need.
First we need to make NUP democratic!
The party has anointed a president, Bobi Wine – the very sin it claims to be fighting in NRM.
There should be a delegates conference to elect a party leader and I will contest.
Second, I noticed that many assume Bobi Wine is the sole presidential candidate by anointment. That also must be rejected.
So I am calling for a debate between me and Bobi Wine on the future of NUP and the strategy to defeat Museveni!
I call upon all party members to rally behind this call for internal democracy in NUP. As the noble Mugisha Muntu never tires of telling us, you cannot give what you do not have.
NUP cannot give democracy to Uganda it it cannot practice it internally!
NUP after all are not as radical as I previously thot! I visited their head office, registered as a member, then picked forms to become presidential candidate. I found @HEBobiwine, like @KagutaMuseveni was being treated as sole presidential candidate for the party. pic.twitter.com/WdB6IxMEfO
— Andrew M. Mwenda (@AndrewMwenda) August 7, 2020
Andrew, otama!!!
Now why are you disturbing people?
I wish the president to make you ambassador to Swaziland or Guinea (Conakry) so you can get out of our hair.
Better still, you should be conscripted into the army or given a job in government. Both such jobs have constitutional gag orders so you would not be allowed to meddle in public affairs by voice or prose.
Good luck in your endeavours (mstwwwwwwwww, naye otama).
If “FREEDOM of speech” is the “bloodline of true authentic Governments”, then remove “emotional sentimentality” out of such issues.
Otherwise Mwenda is a Ugandan citizen like your own self. He has an absolute right like you to “politically compete” where others are “competing”…
If you can NOT do half of what he’s doing, then just shut the Hell up and let him be…
(“Ffa kumudaala gwo”/focus on yo’ own personal issues if political issues can get you so emotional, because that’s the vibe you are giving_off…..)
At first I thought this was fake news, but stranger things have happened in our Uganda… like the nation’s most acclaimed ganja smoker becoming an influential parliamentarian.
In Andrew’s letter he mentions “the strategy to defeat Museveni”. Some might argue that focusing on “the strategy to defeat Museveni” has consistently been a foolproof way to lose elections in Uganda. In fact, this focus has made multi party politics as reintroduced in Uganda seem like a clever trap, designed to keep politics defined by a focus on the incumbent thus appearing to limit opposition’s “vision” to the single short term goal of “defeat Museveni”.
It may seem counterintuitive to shift that focus when defeating Museveni seems to be the main or the only uniting goal of opposition, but that focus inadvertently fixes the opposition squarely in the shadows of the establishment… never mind the fact that it has never really worked as an election strategy.
Yet it worked in America. A wave of populism complete with red hat branding and anti-intellectualism, appealing to the nationalist tendencies of particular demographic groups using short-wave or dog whistle messaging, or simply not disassociating from very divisive radicals… all focused around a consistent anti-incumbent rallying call. Their strategy worked, an election was won, even though we are told that it was not won based on the popular vote.
But what followed?
Supposing that strategy works in Uganda and the red-berret revolution succeeds in defeating Museveni. What will follow?
It may seem like an irrelevant question but the lack of a convincing response to that question is probably what has swayed consciences at the last minute in front of the ballot box.
What will follow? In the absence of a convincing answer, some may be forgiven for imagining puffs of ganja smoke wafting across their TV screens, or non-stop squabbling on TV not dissimilar to the non-stop bickering on twitter and TV witnessed in the American scenario, post-election regret, and an aching nostalgia for what may disappointingly be remembered as “the good old days”.
What will follow? That question needs a more than satisfactory answer. Maybe Andrew can shed some light on what will follow, and as a recent convert with strong communication skills, he may be more convincing to those who remain unconvinced and those who once thought they were convinced.
Anyway. Please don’t abuse me for expressing my views and asking questions. I wish NUP and Andrew Mwenda success. Ultimately, we all want a better Uganda, and a better continent.
So why the fuck didn’t he stand against museveni for all those years he was in NRM. RUBBISH!
Andrew is just topping up his salary, today he has begun in house spying on nup for govt.
He is one influencer with no influence, motor mouth just I think he can do better as a mafia president in.italy.
Andy all I can say is well done you have caught so many offside. Many used to think that Oh Mwenda is an NRM guys without seeing reason.
…that’s why/how the word “mole” exists…
Exactly that is what Mwenda wanted to bring out. NUP members give Andrew a benefit of doubt and treat him like any other change loving Ugandan. I trust he can immensely add value to NUP. Believe me or not he is an intelligent man.
It’s possible Andrew enrolled as a member of NUP just for kicks, but who knows? He may get seriously involved in that party’s activities and contribute immensely to its success!
I like Mwenda he is a brilliant guy hate him love him he will tell you the truth am ready to join NuP if Mwenda is allowed to contest with Mr wine.Some people thought DP is a party for Baganda, after Mao disapproving them they are running to NuP a New form of Kabala yekka let them disapprove this sentment by allowing a debate and a contest between Mr wine and Mwenda after all everyone knows Mwenda will lose him being associated with NRM , being a newcomer and a Westerner but they are intorelant to the level of not accepting that.To hello with a New form of kabbaka yekka.Allow just a simple contest and a debate and we join you.
Kagaba we wont stones at very dog that backs towards us. Dont disturb us. We wont prove to everyone .after all even jesus failed that .no time for your remarks
“I will bring civility, strategy, policy awareness, political depth, military and security knowledge and connections, regional and international experience, a large network of contacts across the country, region and globe, and the best fundraising skills the opposition in Uganda desperately need.
First we need to make NUP democratic!”
————-
Thinly veiled.
There’s only one Andrew Mwenda! 🙂
This is Andrew Mwenda at the height of foolishness. Why has Mwenda not challenged Museveni all these years? This clownish stunt has once again confirmed what I keep saying. Mwenda is pseudo intellectual craving for attention and hiding behind pompous and bombastic speech to portray a veneer of brilliancy. In the western world where I have lived for many years any self respecting journalist would never pull a stunt like this.
The fact is that Mwenda is jealous of Bobi Wine and has always had this sense of false superiority complex because Bobi does not come from the same breeding ground as he did. But in Africa who cares about pedigree of elected officials? Many African presidents including Museveni would have been laughed out of the room when they were in their 30’s; so just leave Bobi alone, Mwenda at least he is brave enough to do what you cannot by starting his own party. Mwenda dare not pull a stunt like this with M7 because his but would be whipped out of the room by Museveni’s goons and URA would be unleashed on him to destroy his business
Andrew, time will tell. All the best.
Mwenda is very right and he is a great assest for any party.. Those who question his move are the very ones who are failing democracy in Uganda. He will challenge Bobi Wine and by doing so internal democracy will be born and a culture of subjecting aspirants to debate issues will be christalized.
If i was a fun of Bobi wine, I would welcome Mwenda’s competition to test his democratic credentials and his ability to handle big issues.
Andy wish u well hope u r not cunning