In a public address, Gen. Muhoozi said that this move was part of a planned strategy aimed at changing the political balance in Uganda.
“We did this strategically. Me and the generals convinced Mzee [President Museveni] that we could use Bobi Wine to remove Besigye from being the main opposition leader,” Gen. Muhoozi explained.
“We supported him with a lot of money, and when he became successful, he started attacking us.”
The general’s statement has sparked a lot of attention
and raised several questions about the political dynamics in Uganda.
According to Gen. Muhoozi, the idea of backing Bobi Wine came from him and other senior military officers who were eager to see a shift in the opposition leadership.
They believed that by supporting Bobi Wine, they could weaken Besigye’s influence, which had been strong for years.
Dr. Kizza Besigye is a well-known opposition figure in Uganda. He has run for president four times and is widely seen as a challenger to President Museveni’s long rule.
Besigye, a former ally of Museveni, has been a vocal critic of the government, calling for reforms and the end of Museveni’s reign.
However, Bobi Wine, a musician turned politician, started gaining popularity in Uganda, particularly among the younger population and marginalized groups. His People Power Movement became a major force in the opposition.
Bobi Wine’s rise in politics was seen as a potential challenge to Besigye’s dominance. His supporters, especially the youth, admired his fresh approach to politics and his call for change.
Bobi Wine’s movement gained significant traction, and he even ran for president in the 2021 election, challenging Museveni.
However, many believed that his success was, at least in part, due to the financial and political support he received from the government.
Gen. Muhoozi’s comments suggest that this support was not a coincidence. According to him, the government’s backing of Bobi Wine was part of a calculated move to diminish Besigye’s influence and create a new opposition leader who could challenge Museveni in a way that suited the government's interests.
“After we helped him rise to power, he turned on us,” Gen. Muhoozi added, suggesting that Bobi Wine began criticizing those who had helped him, including the government and the military.
Bobi Wine’s camp has yet to officially respond to these claims. His supporters may argue that he has always fought for the rights of the people and has opposed Museveni’s government.
However, Gen. Muhoozi’s statement is likely to spark debates about whether Bobi Wine’s rise to prominence was really part of a government strategy or if it was an independent political movement.
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