Opposition National Unity Platform President Bobi Wine has opened up on the decision by singer Joseph Mayanja (Chameleone) to abandon the party and join the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
Bobi Wine said in a televised interview on Tuesday that Mr Chameleone’s decision to “abandon the oppressed and join the dictator” was his own, and that he couldn’t stop him.
Chameleone like other former opposition figures, Bobi Wine added, would be “judged by their own actions.”
Chameleone, who contested and lost in the last Kampala Lord Mayor elections over the weekend revealed that he was a “true member” of the NRM.
The popular musician said he in fact has never belonged to National Unity Platform (NUP) led by Hon Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine.
He distanced himself from NUP party as he was receiving a brand new Range Rover vehicle from NRM officials led by President Museveni’s younger brother Nzeire Kaguta alias Toyota.
“My friend Toyota, I am still your family,” said Chamelone on Sunday in Kampala. “I am still NRM not NUP. If you doubt it you can put on your cameras and record me.”
At the beginning of the 2021 Elections campaigns, Chameleone was working closely with the leaders at NUP with hope they would endorse his candidature for the position of Kampala Lord Mayor.
NUP fronted Nabilah Naggayi Sempala who was the second runner up after being defeated by the incumbent Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago with a huge margin of votes.
However, while speaking to Baaba TV this morning, Bobi Wine said Chameleone jumping ship not only placed him in in bad light as a person who loves riches, but also spoke volumes about his self-worth.
“My brother Chameleone when I introduced him; even when I was talking to him and when we introduced our beliefs to the people, we said these were not beliefs of Kyagulanyi but Ugandans. So he came out like others and professed that the was abandoning the dictator and joining the oppressed,” Bobi Wine said.
“So if he wakes up one morning and decides to abandon the oppressed to re- join the dictator to get some money or a car, for me as a person I can’t decide for him; but we will all be judged by our actions”
He added, “Now, I am not just looking at a person who is hungry for riches but also his sense of self-worth and self-dignity as a person. It is always upon you to decide whether you are worth this amount of money.”
