Popular journalist Andrew Mwenda has blasted Mp Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine’s ill fated concert on boxing day 2018. The musician had organized a show at his “One Love” beach in Busabala but had failed to seek Police permission to host it as stipulated by the Law.
“I feel a lot of sympathy with Bobi Wine because concerts are the way he earns a living.However Bobi Wine is himself not respectful of the freedom of those who disagree with him. Therefore the defense of Bobi Wine’s right to host concerts is not a defense of his right to freedom and liberty as many may think. Rather it is a defense of the right of a radical extremist group intolerant of dissent, and always willing to employ physical and psychological terror on its opponents, to also capture power and load it over others. I find it difficult to defend the right of this neo-nazi cult to organize for power.”, said Mwwenda.
He went on to say that, “In 1971, these Ugandan intellectuals supported, helped and welcomed Idi Amin’s overthrow of the Milton Obote government. Obote’s administration had many problems but it was a much more benign authoritarian government than Idi Amin’s murderous regime. I have many disagreements with Museveni’s rule but these cannot blind me the dangers evident in the forces propelling Bobi Wine most especially their total, absolute and complete intolerance of divergent views and disregard for the rights of others!”.
Andrew Mwenda has been vocal in views against radical political groups in Uganda especially the approach of FDC radicals that have continuously rejected dialogue in favor of defiance and street riots and he says that bobi wine and his cronies belong to this radicalized movement that is willing to sacrifice the liberties of today for authoritarian leadership forwarded by Uganda neo-nazi ideologists especially the urban highly educated middle class.
Mwenda was also critical of foreign powers that have continuously supported defiance politics saying, “I see the US embassy along with EU ambassadors in bed with Bobi Wine oblivious of his demonstrated disregard for liberal democratic ideals. Western diplomats bring only prejudice to their work, hence their constant support of every upstart who shouts dictatorship at the incumbent.
I urge Bobi Wine and Besigye to watch the Chamisa interview on BBC and hopefully to pick one lesson or two. For now, only naive and pseudo democrats shopping for cheap popularity can stand in honest defense of Bobi Wine and his desire to grab power to establish his own dictatorship! ”.
