By Aggrey Baba
Bugiri Municipality MP and JEEMA president Asuman Basalirwa on Thursday faced one of his toughest public moments when a voter openly confronted him at his opening campaign rally in Bugiri Bus Park, questioning his loyalty to the general opposition cause and his performance as their area Member of Parliament.
The Thursday, May 23rd, 2025 rally which attracted thousands of supporters, turned chaotic after a young chapati seller identified only as Hadadi, from Jobless Street in the center of Bugiri town, took the microphone and put a series of uncomfortable questions to the firebrand MP, leaving him visibly uneasy and forcing his supporters to intervene violently.
Moments after finishing his speech, Basalirwa had invited the people to ask him questions, a session during which Hadadi raised his hand and was handed the microphone.
He immediately asked the MP to explain his position on the UPDF Amendment Bill, which Parliament passed in May this year and President Yoweri Museveni later assented to. The controversial law reinstated the trial of civilians in military courts, a matter that the Supreme Court had earlier declared unconstitutional.
Hadadi asked Basalirwa why he, as an opposition MP, lawyer and human rights advocate, did not stand to oppose the Bill during debate in Parliament. He said people in Bugiri expected Basalirwa to defend citizens’ freedoms instead of remaining silent on such a critical issue.
The chapati seller also demanded for an explanation on the Political Parties and Organisations (Amendment) Bill, introduced by Democratic Party president and Justice Minister Norbert Mao, which bars political parties that are not members of the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD) from engaging in certain activities, and receiving the funds they were meant to get from government by virtue of having representation in Parliament.
Hadadi accused Basalirwa of failing to defend other opposition parties from what he called a law designed to weaken multi-party democracy in Uganda.
The visibly bold young man went on to question what tangible achievements Basalirwa has delivered for Bugiri Municipality during his tenure, citing examples of other MPs who he claimed have bought ambulances for their constituencies.
He wondered why Basalirwa, who has served for several years now, has never contributed a similar project to the people of Bugiri. “Can you name a single person you have ever helped, or any program you have started for the people of Bugiri?” Hadadi asked, drawing murmurs and shouts from sections of the crowd.
The questions quickly turned personal when he reminded Basalirwa that Bobi Wine, the National Unity Platform (NUP) leader, had played a major role in helping him win the 2018 by-election.
Hadadi accused Basalirwa of being ungrateful and forgetful, saying that instead of appreciating Kyagulanyi’s support, he now attacks him in the media and distances himself from the NUP camp.
The young man further questioned Basalirwa’s close relationship with Bukedea Woman MP and Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, and the NRM government, asking the legislator to clarify whether he was secretly working with Museveni.
No sooner had Hadadi finished his questions than some of Basalirwa’s supporters pounced on him, accusing him of trying to embarrass their candidate. The situation quickly escalated, with the poor man being pushed off the stage and into the crowd, where he was beaten by some angry supporters.
BASALIRWA PLAYS ADULT IN THE ROOM:
Basalirwa tried to calm the situation, repeatedly urging his supporters to stop the violence but the scuffle continued for several minutes. The embattled chapati seller was later rescued and brought back to the stage, where he sat quietly as the crowd slowly calmed down.
In his response, a defensive Basalirwa clarified that he had opposed the IPOD Bill, saying it also affects him personally since it had provisions which limit political expression, including even his choice of dress code (Kaunda suites).
He told the people of Bugiri that out of all MPs, he was among the few who spoke openly against the proposed amendments.
On the question of community projects, Basalirwa avoided commenting on the issue of ambulances and local contributions, only saying he had once helped “a lame man” by buying him a wheelchair, an answer which drew mixed reactions from the audience, with some cheering, while others murmured in disbelief.
The Hadadi incident has since become the talk of Bugiri town, with many describing it as a reflection of the growing discontent among voters who feel abandoned by their leaders.
Many say the chaos marked a rough start for Basalirwa’s re-election bid in a district already charged by the rising NUP wave, also underlining how questions of loyalty, accountability and political identity continue to dominate Bugiri’s campaign season.
Once hailed as a symbol of opposition unity in 2018, Thursday’s confrontation showed that Basalirwa’s bond with the electorate may be weakening, as even ordinary voters like chapati sellers are now willing to dare challenge him publicly. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
