Kizza Besigye, a four-time presidential candidate, in a private meeting held on the night of November 3, 2023, the eve of the unveiling of the National Unity Platform (NUP) offices, in Besigye’s living room, reached an agreement with NUP’s Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, to share power equally.
According to sources, Besigye and Bobi Wine once again agreed to join forces politically and financially in preparation for the 2026 general elections.
“Both parties agreed to jointly share power, with Besigye’s wife being at the forefront of soliciting for funds since she is well known and respected by the gay funding group that has been the main funder,” said the source.
The source noted that Besigye agreed to form the alliance with NUP because he wants his wife, Winnie Byanyima, to join politics, and the FDC interim government had rejected her because of her protection of gay people.
“Some of the NUP leadership has travelled to the USA to discuss details with Besigye’s wife Winnie and solicit for funds,” stated the source.
However, according to NUP supporters and the FDC Najjanakumbi Faction, Besigye cannot be trusted, claiming that his intentions are not good given his past history with previous political allies naming the likes of Mugisha Muntu, Nathan Nandala Mafabi, and Patrick Oboi Amuriat, among others.
“If he can destroy the party he founded the way he did, playing one person against the other, what will he do to a party he has just joined hands with?” questioned the NUP supporters.
According to the supporters, Besigye is a known state agent, and joining forces with him is a time bomb waiting to explode.
“Muntu once stated that time will tell who the real mole was when he was accused by Besigye of being an NRM mole,” added the supporters.
Patrick Wakida, a political analyst, has said that, at the unveiling of the NUP offices, only the FDC Katonga faction was invited, and Besigye, who was the key note speaker, was also appreciated by NUP leadership as their mentor.
“That was a clear indication that collaboration was reached; if not about to be reached, you cannot hold a party for housewarming if only one neighbour is invited, which means the rest of the neighbours are not liked and important,” said Wakida.
This is not the first collaboration that NUP and Besigye have forged. In 2020, they formed what they dubbed the United Forces of Change. The two principals, who were flanked by members of their respective camps, used the occasion to announce the formation of a new pressure campaign to rally their supporters to stop attacking each other, especially on social media.
However, when it came to picking the flag bearer, they hit a dead end as each person from either side wanted to take the mantle, which led to the collapse of the alliance.
In 2022, an alliance was formed between the two again at Hotel Africana in the wake of the by-elections promising to work together to win all the seats; however, it did not last either as both sides fronted candidates and campaigned for them independently.
