Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs Balaam Barugahara has called on opposition leader and musician Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, to step away from active politics and instead seek a role within President Yoweri Museveni’s government, arguing that his influence would be better used in culture, music, and youth empowerment.
In a public message addressed to Bobi Wine and shared widely on social media and local radio, Barugahara appealed to the National Unity Platform (NUP) leader “as one of Uganda’s music stars,” urging him to consider a government deployment and work alongside President Museveni, whom he described as the “Father of the Nation” and the democratically elected leader for the 2026–2031 term.
“You have the potential to make a meaningful impact on ghetto transformation, music, and the broader cultural landscape,” Barugahara said, citing Bobi Wine’s personal story of rising from poverty to national prominence.
He added that such lived experience could make Kyagulanyi “a valuable asset” in government-led social programs.
Barugahara further encouraged Bobi Wine to reach out directly to President Museveni, the Senior Presidential Advisor on Special Assignments, or the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, offering himself as a mediator.
Mixing English and Luganda, the minister urged unity and service, saying: “Muganda wange jangu tuwereze eggwanga… Mzee Museveni musajja mulungi nyo.”
The remarks come amid heightened political tension following Uganda’s disputed January 15, 2026, presidential election, in which Museveni was declared the winner with about 71 percent of the vote.
Bobi Wine rejected the results, alleging widespread irregularities including ballot stuffing and voter intimidation.
Since the announcement of the results, Bobi Wine has said he is in hiding after what he described as a security raid on his home in Magere, Kampala.
His family has reportedly remained under heavy security presence. Despite speculation from some pro-government figures that he fled to Nairobi, no independent or credible media reports have substantiated those claims.
Bobi Wine has given several interviews to international outlets from undisclosed locations, consistently stating that he remains inside Uganda for safety reasons.
Barugahara’s comments also dismissed the Nairobi claims, stating there was no credible evidence to support them, and instead framed his appeal as a call for reconciliation and redirection.
Opposition figures and analysts, however, view the minister’s remarks as politically charged, arguing that they downplay unresolved concerns about electoral integrity and post-election repression.
Bobi Wine has continued to call for peaceful resistance and international attention to what he describes as a shrinking democratic space in Uganda.
As the country navigates the aftermath of the election, Barugahara’s appeal underscores a broader push by some government officials for co-optation and unity, even as divisions between the ruling establishment and the opposition remain stark.
Whether Bobi Wine responds to the overture remains to be seen.
