National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi has come under fire from activists for being evasive on the recently enacted Anti-Homosexuality Act.
Earlier this week, Kyagulanyi, commonly known as Bobi Wine, travelled to the United Kingdom after London lifted the travel ban against him.
Bobi Wine had been excluded by the UK’s Home Office on the basis of his anti-gay lyrics he released in 2014, urging the public to “shoot all the battymen.”
Bobi’s international lawyers and Human rights activists quickly piled pressure on the Home Office to allow Bobi travel to UK, saying he had apologised for the anti-gay lyrics words and spent years advocating for the rights of LGBTQ people.
On arrival in London yesterday, Bobi appeared on BBC where he was asked to make his position on LGBT clear to the world.
Bobi said, “I wrote the lyrics and sang them. I took responsibility. Certainly, We grow and transform. I have always mentioned that I am a product of very many second changes. I wanna be known for a leader that is respectful and inclusive of everybody.” of course this is now the same thing. I’m tussling it out with general Museveni who deliberately sponsored the law.
Didn’t bring it in the interests of the people of Uganda – but to target opposition. He knows he can use it to crackdown on anybody perceived to be friendly to that community.”
Asked why his NUP MPs voted in favour of the law in its entirety, Bobi Wine noted: “Sure, in my party, I have MPs that are working with Gen Museveni.”
He did not identify the MPs working the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
Pressed to explain if he supported or opposed the law, Bobi observed: “It was brought targeting the opposition and that means that anything I say about the law not only puts me or my family in harm’s way.”
The BCC host further asked whether he would repeal the Anti-Homsexuality Law if he became president of Uganda, Bobi Wine responded: “I would be very cautious because I know it was largely targeting the opposition, mainly myself.”
The new law prohibits any form of sexual relations between persons of the same sex or promotion or recognition of homosexuality.
It appears Bobi Wine wants to be seen as progressive in the liberal western community where most of his donors are based.
He also has to be mindful of publicly opposing the law which enjoys wide support in Uganda – a largely conservative society.
Bobi is in the UK to help promote a new film called Bobi Wine: Ghetto President, which charts his rise from a Kampala slum to take on one of Africa’s longest-standing autocracies.
Part of the new film, which will be released this year, is directed by British filmmaker Christopher Sharp and focuses on alleged election malpractices in Uganda.
Bobi Wine has already missed one premier of the film in August.
BY Chimp Reports
