In a video that has since gone viral, Col Kizza Besigye brought a new meaning to the popular People Power slogan Twebereremu, which loosely translates in English as get involved.

The retired colonel suggested the word is a coded catch phrase that carries tribal undertones that could stoke tribal conflicts in the country. Speaking in an interview, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine, the Kyadondo East MP and leader of the People Power Movement, said he is not a tribalist, he has never been and will never be.

He said much as Besigye has since offered clarity to his earlier statements and apologised, he felt offended that he can be portrayed however, subtly, as a tribalist by the four time presidential candidate. 

“I’m not a tribalist and I don’t believe in tribalism whatsoever. I despise people who have tribalistic thoughts. Just like slangs that have been brought like Tubalemese [let’s sabotage them], Twebereremu means; let everybody get involved [in the struggle]. When you look at me and the people close to me, they come from all over the country. When you look at the person I’m married to [Barbara Itungo, who comes from western Uganda] and listen to my message; you will not classify me as a tribalist,” he said, adding, “I’m actually very glad that Dr KB came out and apologised for that misquotation. I hope that helps people understand that I Bobi Wine and People Power are not tribalists. I pray that the constant engagement as leaders will help brothers from FDC and People Power understand that we are not fighting against each other but we are fighting for each other,” Bobi Wine said.

He dismissed as false speculation that there is bad blood between him and Besigye. He said he visits the retired colonel at his home in Kasangati and calls him often.

“The last time I had a phone conversation with Dr KB was yesterday, [last Monday] I called him, he didn’t call me. I have visited him a couple of times and I know that one day I will be able to convince him to see things the way I see them that is if he doesn’t already see them the way I see them. He is somebody I respect and I think he is somebody who is resourceful, somebody who has a lot of experience we have to tap into as young leaders.”

He said however, that young people too have qualities and abilities Besigye can tap into.

“My desire is to be the link between various mind sets, various tribes, various groupings and various generations,” Bobi Wine said.

He however, added that people who have been in politics for some time have a challenge in understanding the emerging leaders and their way of doing things.

“We want to make sure that our elders understand us so that we are not misunderstood to be tribalists. Those in the opposition with us must understand that there is no need for us to fight each other. This is not about who has fought President Museveni longest but a question of how we can free ourselves. Everyone has a role to play. There is nothing like being a professional politician. The struggle does not belong to anybody; there is no forever flag bearer of the struggle; all of us are equally important and we should embrace and respect each other and give each other a chance to contribute to the struggle,” he said

Ban on Music shows

Bobi Wine also vowed to use all the legal means available to fight the police ban on his music shows. Police recently issued a statement banning Bobi Wine’s music shows. His show in Jinja was blocked by police at the weekend and he escaped arrest. Similarly his Boxing Day concert at his One Love beach in Busabala was also blocked. 

He said police has not given him any reason whatsoever for stopping his shows.

“It should be known to everybody that police is operating in an illegal manner and the number one perpetrator of impunity. They are charged with keeping law and order but now they are the custodian of unlawfulness and disorder. It should be remembered that last year when police first blocked my concerts, I went to court but that case is yet to be heard up to now. I have written protest letters to the Inspector General of Police but he has not yet responded. I have walked to his office and I was made to wait for four hours without seeing him,” he said, adding that, “…Even when the director of operations [Asuman Mugyenyi] came to see me, all he said was he cannot give us answers to all the questions we were raising and that the orders they were effecting were orders from above,” Bobi Wine said.

He said he will petition all human rights platforms and parliament among others, to see that his right to a earn a living is protected.

“There are two things; we are either going to get justice or we are going to expose injustice wherever it is. Order from above in Uganda means an order from President Museveni and indeed he told Hon Asuman Basalirwa during the Ipod meeting [last week] that he will not allow me to freely exercise and practice my profession. I don’t know where he gets that power from. One thing I know is that our institutions have crumbled and can no longer act independently but we are not giving up because we believe in right over wrong, in good over evil and we believe justice will prevail no matter how long it takes.” He said what is happening to him is not surprising at all since he has seen injustices unleashed on many other leaders who have come before him.

“One thing we want to guarantee is that we are the last generation that is going to suffer this injustice because we are going to put it to an end. It was not in my expectation that the regime would be so scared of me to this extent. But I would be lying to say that all this impunity and highhandedness was not expected. You have seen how Museveni has treated all voices of dissent and I’m not any different. But the only difference is that we are the generation that is going to send Museveni home and all this impunity is going to end.”