Crowds Came For A Musical Concert, Not A Campaign — Mawanda On Bobi Wine’s Mbarara Rally!

By Swift News 

The Director of Mobilisation for the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) and Member of Parliament for Igara East, Hon. Michael Maranga Mawanda, has downplayed the significance of the crowd that attended National Unity Platform (NUP) President Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, alias Bobi Wine’s, rally in Mbarara City on Friday.

Speaking to the press, Hon. Mawanda said that the majority of people who gathered at the NUP rally were attracted by Bobi Wine’s musical fame rather than his political message.

“People in Mbarara know Bobi Wine as a musician, not a leader. They attended the rally to watch a celebrity perform, not to listen to a politician,” Mawanda said.

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He further argued that Mbarara remains a stronghold of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), symbolized by the “yellow color” of the region. According to Mawanda, the crowd’s excitement did not translate into political support for the opposition leader.

“Mbarara is already painted yellow. Bobi Wine always moves with his supporters from Kampala to create an impression of popularity, but people here can tell the difference between a musician and a leader,” he added.

Mawanda also dismissed allegations that some locals had struggled to find where Bobi Wine would spend the night, saying such theatrics were part of his usual campaign strategy.

“Those tricks of staging crowds and creating drama are planned. People here simply came to see him for free,” the MP remarked.

He further noted that some of the images of large crowds circulating online were misleading, explaining that Bobi Wine gained some of his supporters not at the official rally ground but along the town routes he chose to use. According to Mawanda, the NUP leader diverted from the agreed route and passed through busy areas such as markets, where people stopped their work out of curiosity.

“He deliberately passed through the market, which wasn’t on his official route. People gathered because they were surprised to see a famous artist in town, not because they were attending his rally,” Mawanda explained.

The legislator emphasized that the actual rally venue did not attract huge numbers, saying most people were seen along the roads and in town centers where they were going about their daily work.

“The rally in Mbarara didn’t have big numbers. It was mainly in the towns where he found people already busy at work,” Mawanda observed.

He also condemned the conduct of some Bobi Wine supporters who were seen provoking security officers during the event, warning that such acts of indiscipline could endanger public safety.

“Provoking security forces is irresponsible. Our officers are there to maintain peace, not to be taunted by unruly supporters,” Mawanda said.

He concluded by stressing that the rally was largely a musical attraction, not a political one, saying most of the people who turned up came to watch artist Bobi Wine, which explains why he managed to pull such a crowd.

Mawanda urged Ugandans to remain patient and focused on the leadership of President Yoweri Museveni and the future of the country under Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, whom he described as “the standby generator.”

“When Gen. Muhoozi comes, Ugandans will understand the difference between a true leader and a musician,” he said.