Bobi Wine addressing his supporters in Masaka. Courtesy Photo
By Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine
Masaka has played a significant role — and paid a heavy price — in Uganda’s political history since it’s establishment as a township in the 1950s.
It was a battleground in the 1970s, especially in 1979 when the Tanzanian army bombed to the ground most of its infrastructure as they drove Iddi Amin from power.
From September to December 1985, dictator Museveni’s rebels laid siege on and eventually captured Masaka from the UNLA forces, which paved the way for Kampala’s eventual collapse one month later in January 1986.
Yet, despite its geographical location and historic significance to Uganda, Greater Masaka and its people have nothing but pain and exploitation to show for it.
There are clear indications that the Museveni regime is determined to keep this region subjugated and undeveloped, and its people impoverished and fearful for their lives.
Once a hub for Uganda’s lucrative coffee industry, Masaka is a shadow of its former self. The regime has enacted laws that generally prohibit anyone from growing, selling or adding value to coffee without authorisation.
Considering how it has ring-fenced all top foreign exchange earning industries in Uganda, such as fishing and minerals, it is apparent that the NRA regime’s ultimate intention is not to regulate the coffee industry for the benefit of the citizens who depend on it for their survival, but rather to drive them out of it for the benefit of Museveni and his close allies.
No wonder, the same regime is now also going after the lucrative ensenene (grasshopper) and enswa (white ants) businesses that Masaka’s people are reputed for.
The people of Masaka are yet to get answers about who was behind the machete-wielding assailants who hacked to death their relatives in the serial killings of 2021, 2017 and 2013.
Neither do they have answers for the abduction of many of their children around the 2021 presidential election who are still missing to date.
I emphasized to the people of Masaka that contrary to narratives being peddled by the regime through certain media houses, there is no rift within our Party.
Although we may occasionally have divergent viewpoints, we have only common one enemy — dictator Museveni — who continues to preside over our oppression and the theft of our country’s resources.
The writer is the president of the National Unity Platform (NUP)
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