National Unity Platform (NUP) President Robert Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine, has cast blame of being misconstrued for his comments on the Anti-Homosexuality law 2023 on regime propagandists.
Bobi said during a press briefing held at NUP headquarters on December 12, 2023, that his words were twisted by regime propagandists for their own gain. Bobi said he is a leader that wants to represent all people, including homosexuals.
“Regime propagandists tried as much as possible to twist my words, but I still stand by my words because I am a leader that wants to be a leader for all people in the population – for even those that are not like me,” he said.
Bobi Wine said the Anti-Homosexuality Law has shifted from being a moral issue and has been turned political.
He alleged that the law is being used by President Museveni to help him gain favour from the population.
“I want you to know that this issue (Gay law) has been turned from a moral to a political issue. The gay issue is being used by Museveni’s regime to play politics, and it is a political issue now,” he said.
He added that: “Whenever Museveni sees that he has no popular or political support, he picks up on something that he thinks will help build him up once again.”
Bobi Wine has in the recent past been criticized for his comments on the Anti-Homosexuality Law.
Asked by BBC why his NUP MPs voted in favour of the law in its entirety, Bobi Wine noted: “Sure, in my party, I have MPs that are working with Gen Museveni.”
He did not identify the MPs working with the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
The comments sparked a storm in Parliament.
A section of MPs in Parliament branded Bobi Wine’s comments as ‘cheap politics’ and urged him to stop tainting the image of his country for personal gain.
The NUP party president today emphasized that “It is true that some of the legislators in his party work with president Museveni, stating that some are known by the public while others are yet to be known.”
He did not mention names.
Bobi recently traveled to the United Kingdom, after London lifted the travel ban against him.
He had been excluded by the UK’s Home Office on the basis of his anti-gay lyrics he released in 2014, urging the public to “shoot all the battymen.”
On arrival in London, Bobi appeared on BBC, where he was asked to make his position on LGBT clear to the world.
Bobi said, “I wrote the lyrics and sang them. I took responsibility. Certainly, We grow and transform. I have always mentioned that I am a product of very many second chances. I wanna be known for a leader that is respectful and inclusive of everybody.“
The BBC host further asked whether he would repeal the Anti-Homsexuality Law if he became president of Uganda.
Bobi Wine responded: “I would be very cautious because I know it was largely targeting the Opposition, mainly myself.”
The new law prohibits any form of sexual relations between persons of the same sex or promotion or recognition of homosexuality.
It appears Bobi Wine wants to be seen as progressive in the liberal western community, where most of his donors are based.
He also has to be mindful of publicly opposing the law, which enjoys wide support in Uganda – a largely conservative society.
Bobi was in the UK to help promote a new film called Bobi Wine: Ghetto President, which charts Bobi’s rise from a Kampala slum to take on one of Africa’s longest-standing autocracies.
Part of the new film, which will be released this year, is directed by British filmmaker Christopher Sharp and focuses on alleged election malpractices in Uganda.
