Justice Forum (JEEMA) president and Bugiri Municipality Member of Parliament, Hon. Asuman Basalirwa, has voiced his disappointment with remarks made by National Unity Platform (NUP) Presidential Candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine, during a recent political rally in Bugiri.
While campaigning in the area, Bobi Wine urged residents to vote out Basalirwa, accusing him of abandoning the political ideals they once shared.
He called on the people of Bugiri to instead support NUP’s candidate, Macelino Egesa Mangeni, claiming the constituency deserved more accountable leadership.
“We trusted our brother to represent and serve the people, but he has disappointed us,” Kyagulanyi told supporters. He no longer stands for the values we believed in. It’s time for change time to elect someone who truly works for the community.”Kyagulanyi told supporters.
While appearing on Sanyuka TV’s Morning Xpress show hosted by Adam Kungu today, Basalirwa dismissed the allegations, insisting that he remains committed to the people of Bugiri and continues to challenge the injustices they face under the current government.
“Bugiri is one of the districts most negatively affected by government policies,Many Muslims are in prison, accused of links to the ADF. I have been representing them in court for years long before Bobi Wine even entered Parliament.”,he said.
Basalirwa questioned why NUP and its leader would campaign against him, describing himself as one of the best-performing MPs in the 11th Parliament. He pointed to several of his achievements, including lobbying for $20 million in funding for Bugiri Hospital.
He explained that after Uganda passed the Anti-Homosexuality Act, which he supported, U.S. aid was cut off, prompting him to advise the government to seek alternative funding sources.
“The government listened and secured a loan from the Arab Bank. That’s progress we can’t ignore,” he noted.
Basalirwa also highlighted key legislative initiatives he has championed, such as the Islamic Courts Bill and the Anti-Counterfeit Bill, which he said are positively impacting Ugandans.
“I have consistently ranked among the top six best-performing MPs this term. If Kyagulanyi comes to Bugiri to de-campaign me, it only shows he doesn’t understand whom the people truly support,” Basalirwa added.
When asked whether he had attempted to reconcile with Bobi Wine, Basalirwa revealed that communication between them had broken down.
“He blocked me everywhere,I have no personal grudge against him, but his team and the NUP leadership have repeatedly attacked me. This isn’t the first time.”,he said.
In 2018, current National Unity Platform(NUP) Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, then under the People Power platform camped in Bugiri district for close to two months to drum support for Asuman Basalirwa to become MP for the newly created Buguri Municipality. Basalirwa had just competed in the 2016 general election for MP Bukooli North which had Bugiri Town Council before it was elevated to a Municipality and performed relatively dismal against National Resistance Movement’s Gaster Kyawa Mugoya who emerged eventual winner.
Faced with a stiff challenge from NRM’s John Francis Okecho and Eunice Namatende of the Forum for Democratic Change( FDC), Basalirwa was undeniably going to face an insurmountable task to win the seat.
The two months hard work for Bobi Wine, who was equally joined by other prominent politicians such as Abeid Bwanika, Erias Lukwago, Samuel Lubega Mukaku finally managed to sway the voters, pulling mammoth crowds at every rally to finally deliver urguably one of the most refined political minds Busoga has ever produced to Parliament.