Masaka, Uganda – Dr. Abed Bwanika, the Member of Parliament for Kimaanya–Kabonera, has formally endorsed Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, better known as Bobi Wine, for the presidency in the 2026 elections. The announcement followed Kyagulanyi’s massive rally in Masaka, which drew thousands of supporters and appeared to shift the political ground in Buganda.
Bwanika’s move is striking because he had previously broken away from the National Unity Platform (NUP) after a bitter fallout, co-founding the Democratic Front (DF) alongside Mathias Mpuuga and Juliet Kakande. The DF leadership had consistently criticized Kyagulanyi, insisting that NUP lacked real support in Masaka.
Yet when Kyagulanyi’s convoy entered Masaka from Lukaya last week, the turnout told a different story. Streets overflowed with supporters, a show of force that contradicted Bwanika’s earlier predictions of empty rallies. In a video shared widely on social media and CBS Radio’s Facebook page, Bwanika told his constituents, “Bobi Wine never attacked anyone when he came here in Masaka. He just asked for his votes. Therefore, give him your votes. I am running for a parliamentary position, and he is vying for a presidential office—vote for him.”
This endorsement marks a sharp reversal. Just days before, Bwanika and Mpuuga had been pressed by voters to clarify their stance on Kyagulanyi’s candidacy. At one meeting, a voter openly challenged them for refusing to back NUP, reminding them that in 2021 they had campaigned alongside Kyagulanyi against President Museveni.
Observers note that Bwanika’s shift is not only about Masaka’s turnout but also about political survival. The UGX 500 million “service award” scandal, widely interpreted by NUP as a state bribe, has left Mpuuga politically weakened and Bwanika carrying part of that backlash. Standing against Kyagulanyi in Masaka has become increasingly risky, with voters frustrated by DF’s prolonged feud with NUP.
Bwanika’s endorsement was brief and calculated. He did not promise reconciliation or unity but effectively removed himself from Kyagulanyi’s line of fire. Analysts suggest it was a pragmatic move: acknowledging that the crowd has already chosen its direction and resisting it could mean political isolation.
The same politician who once mocked Kyagulanyi’s ambitions in Masaka is now urging voters to support him. It is a clear signal that the political tide in Masaka—and perhaps Buganda more broadly—has shifted, forcing even former critics to adjust to the new reality.
