Bugiri Municipality MP and Justice Forum (JEEMA) president, Hon. Asuman Basalirwa, has spoken out about his souring relationship with National Unity Platform (NUP) boss Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine), saying he can’t understand why the musician-turned-politician has distanced himself from him (Basalirwa).
Appearing on Next media’s Sanyuka TV on Monday, Basalirwa said that despite being ranked among the top ten performing Members of Parliament, he has been unfairly targeted and sidelined by Kyagulanyi’s camp. He said instead of supporting legislators who are delivering results, leaders within the opposition [NUP] are focused on weakening Parliament by turning political allies into rivals.
The JEEMA president said he was particularly shocked that Kyagulanyi, who once regarded him (Basalirwa) as a close ally during the People Power movement, now avoids him completely (no longer picking his calls or responding to messages). Basalirwa revealed that Kyagulanyi even went as far as blocking him on WhatsApp, something he interprets as both personal and political rejection.
He explained that in the early days of the People Power wave, Kyagulanyi was approachable and communicative, often reaching out directly whenever disagreements arose. Today, however, Basalirwa said the NUP president has completely changed, becoming distant and unresponsive to colleagues who helped shape the early opposition movement.
Basalirwa attributed the fallout to ideological differences between the two political parties, saying while NUP has its own agenda, JEEMA operates independently with its unique values and approach to leadership. These differences, he said, have often led to misunderstandings, especially during parliamentary decision-making and electoral planning.
Earlierthis month, Kyagulanyi, while on a campaign rally in Bugiri, openly decampaigned Basalirwa in Bugiri Municipality, urging voters to support a NUP candidate , Mr Egesa Maserino Mangen instead. Kagulanyi called Basalirwa a traitor who betrayed the struggle, who chose to side with the regime.
The move surprised many, given Basalirwa’s record of strong performance and past cooperation with Kyagulanyi during the struggle for political reform. In 2018, Kyagulanyi camped in Bugiri for nearly two months, garnering support for Basalirwa in the Bugiri Municipality MP race, an election, he (Basalirwa) won, despite his opponents, John Francis Okecho of the NRM, and Eunice Namatende (then FDC) being backed by political giants in Dr. Kizza Besigye and President YK Museveni.
Basalirwa said he has chosen not to respond with hostility, stressing that he believes in winning or losing honorably, not through blackmail or character assassination. He reaffirmed his loyalty to JEEMA and its principles, saying he remains committed to promoting unity, service delivery, and responsible politics. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
