By Mulengera Reporters
Habib Buwembo, who barely two years ago quit FDC and defected to NUP Party, has this Wednesday been made the new head of mobilization for the Kavule-based party. Bobi Wine’s elder brother Fred Nyanzi Ssentamu has occupied this position since the inception of the Kyagulanyi struggle more than seven years ago. He is a fighter who originally belonged to Jeema before going to FDC at Najjanankumbi. He was attracted to Najjanankumbi by Kizza Besigye’s politics of defiance and activism.
Buwembo believes that the politics of moderation can’t manage Gen Museveni and that the regime has to be confronted with action and protests on the streets. One of the many things which frustrated him to leave FDC was the unrelenting hostilities he faced from Nandala Mafabi and POA each time he dared to organize a protest on the streets. He was also angry that all his intelligence information indicating that Oweek Joyce Sebugwawo was on the verge of defecting to NRM was disregarded by POA and Nandala Mafabi.
With POA and Nandala taking charge at Najjanankumbi, Buwembo, a renowned veteran rioter and protests organizer in Rubaga Division, came to the conclusion that FDC was no longer the party for activists. Through his close friend and ally Fred Nyanzi, Habib Buwembo (who was among the very first people Bobi Wine approached in 2018 as he started his struggle) finally made up his mind and was unveiled at NUP headquarters as a new big fish defector from FDC.
He immediately hit the ground running and joined the foot soldiers’ movement of NUP under the Kunga mobilization campaign and all this was under the close supervision and encouragement of Fred Nyanzi. When the young people got agitated about corruption at Parliament, Buwembo was among those who led protests down town and in the process inspired many hitherto fence-sitting Ugandans into the Kyagulanyi-led struggle.
He famously got arrested and locked up in Luzira only to tell journalists he wasn’t bothered because, being among the most jailed activists in Uganda only second to Dr. Kizza Besigye, he had come to accept Luzira as his second home. Buwembo still has his eyes on becoming the MP Rubaga South though the new assignment elevates him to the national level. In fact, he says the new role makes him chief foot soldier whose task it will be to traverse the whole country to ensure that Mr. Wine becomes President come 2026.
His understanding of the role is that he may not have adequate time to continue being keen on the local politics of his native Rubaga Division now that he will be commanding and coordinating teams across the country. Buwembo has always feared no one, which is why he one time dared to take on Speaker Anita Among only to end up in prison one more time.
He is the type who gets bail today and the next day begins protests from where he left off. As a diehard Muslim, Buwembo has previously taken on Mufti Shaban Mubajje and his supporters like Abdul Kitata of Boda Boda 2010. Being allowed to ascend to such a position of influence inside NUP is indicative of a Bobi Wine who is determined to keep exhibiting his contempt for the so-called intellectuals, elites and those who consider themselves to be politically very sophisticated. Indeed, Buwembo says his victory is a win for foot soldiers who he has vowed to lead and re-energize in a way that will make the political colossus from Magere real proud of being the NUP President.
Those who know him say Buwembo is a man of his word and isn’t among those wannabe political leaders or activists who preach water during the day time (at say a press conference) and take wine late into the night once in the comfort of their homes. When it comes to the walking the talk and struggling to make sure that Gen Museveni ceases to be President of Uganda, Habib Buwembo is only prepared to keep his word and keep doing the right thing even when no one is watching.
The other thing which has to be noted is the fact that Habib Buwembo’s ascension to the chief mobilizer position helps Mr. Wine deescalate claims of dynastic tendencies inside NUP yet it makes Fred Nyanzi continue to feel accommodated because Buwembo is his personal person as well. In fact, many see Buwembo’s defection from FDC as Fred Nyanzi’s personal project.
Indeed, he is the one who mobilized and lured him to leave FDC and come to NUP where he assured him he would be wanted, appreciated and given a platform to deploy his full potential for the benefit of his dear motherland and country Uganda. He is humble, respectful, selfless, fearless and courteous in his dealings with colleagues. He is a foot soldier who can endure all manner of suffering and persecution without betraying the broader struggle for a better-governed Uganda. Even after acrimoniously leaving, Buwembo promised never to talk ill of FDC and he kept his word.
A deliberate builder of bridges (as opposed to burning down things), Buwembo is also a close ally of Dr. Stella Nyanzi, Isaac Semakadde, Ingrid Turinawe, Salaam Musumba, Erias Lukwago, Kizza Besigye and others-Mr. Wine needs to find some common ground with all these veteran political leaders as he continues to cautiously ponder putting together a political coalition of some sort, which can only increase (as opposed to diminishing) his chances at snatching the thing from Gen Museveni and his enablers.
Buwembo’s becoming the new mobilization chief for Kavule will also accelerate and simplify negotiations with Katonga-based PFF or Freedom Party regarding how all those political giants serving under Dr. KB can be harnessed to work towards Mr. Wine’s 2026 victory.
When he chooses you to be his leader, Habib Buwembo can be loyal to a fault to the extent that Bobi Wine can go to bed and sleep comfortably at night without having to worry about the possibility of his mobilization chief doing a Mathias Mpuuga on him.
He is also down to earth and always keeps his friends. Being naturally down to earth will benefit NUP because Habib Buwembo (a graduate of IUIU) is one person any foot soldier can access or get on phone any day of the week and any time of the day.
His coming on board also increases the visibility of Muslims in the top echelons of the National Unity Platform where Muwanga Kivumbi, Aisha Kabanda, Shamim Nambasa and others are already very conspicuous. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
