Over the years, Ugandans, especially in Kampala and other major towns, have been glorifying hooligans, treating them as celebrities and heroes to the extent of voting one into Parliament and nearly voting him into State House.
From Kyagulanyi Robert, whose gangster name is Bobi Wine, to Patrick Mulwana, alias Alien Skin, these self-proclaimed gangsters have enjoyed support from Ugandans who glorify them out of sheer idiocy. They listen to their ugly music, poorly produced with shallow lyrics glorifying evil and immorality, attend their concerts where they even get beaten and robbed of their belongings, but still they never learn!!
In civilized societies, such characters are only welcome in one place—prison; however, for Uganda, especially Kampala, these are the heroes who walk above the law. Evidently, when Bobi Wine joined politics, a gangster who was supposed to be shunned found himself steering the opposition with opportunists like Mathias Mpuuga and Joel Ssenyonyi having to adopt gangster characters to obtain his favor.
Mpuuga, after falling out with Kyagulanyi, has gone on to team up with the new gangster on the bloc, Alien Skin, in a bid to salvage his political career.
However, the consequences of idolizing controversial figures who thrive on chaotic and unruly behavior are becoming severe by the day. Bobi Wine, whose songs and character created an illusion of “coolness” for someone who uses drugs, inspired millions of youth to become drug abusers.
Consequently, the prevalence of drug abuse among youths in Uganda today is 70.1%, which is a lot higher than that of East Africa, which is approximated at 45.5%, according to a recent study by the National Institutes of Health.
The incident between Pallaso and Alien Skin is just the latest in a series of violent episodes linked to Uganda’s music scene. These events are symptomatic of a broader societal issue—glorifying individuals whose actions and messages undermine public order. The resulting normalization of violence and unruly behavior now threatens the safety and harmony of communities.
Nonetheless, these horrific repercussions are beginning to awaken Ugandans to the grave danger of idolizing hooligans. Prominent voices are now calling for introspection. “We need to ask ourselves what kind of role models we are celebrating,” said social commentator Judith Namazzi, adding that “Our children are growing up in a society where chaos and immorality are celebrated instead of hard work and integrity.”
The Minister of State for Youth and Children’s Affairs, Balaam Barugahara, has called for immediate intervention by authorities to dismantle the gangs headed by musicians, accountability for leaders and sponsors promoting violence, and support for victims and their families.
Music promoters have also taken a unanimous decision to stop booking musicians Alien Skin and Pius Pallaso to sing at musical events following a fight between the two and their gangs that resulted in injuries and damage to property.
These voices are a step in the right direction, and it is high time Ugandans reevaluate the individuals they choose to idolize and celebrate. By glorifying hooligans and turning them into celebrities, society inadvertently empowers a culture of lawlessness and immorality, with dire consequences for the nation’s youth and community harmony.
The events involving Alien Skin and Pallaso serve as a wake-up call, highlighting the urgent need to shift focus toward constructive role models who promote values of integrity, hard work, and respect for the law.
Ugandans must realize that the power of attention is transformative—when given to the wrong figures, it fosters chaos, but when directed toward the right individuals, it builds a foundation for a prosperous, peaceful, and morally upright society. It is time to reject the glorification of hooliganism and embrace a culture that uplifts true heroes.
