President Yoweri Museveni Has Called Bobi Wine 'An Enemy of Progress in Uganda'

Ugandan opposition leader of the People Power Movement (PPM), Bobi Wine, continues to be the proverbial thorn in President Yoweri Museveni's side. The head of state, who's been in power for a little over three decades, described Wine as an "enemy of progress in Uganda" during a recent interview with the BBC. President Museveni has accused Wine of standing in the way of Uganda's prosperity by dissuading people from investing in the country. He also refuted claims made by Wine that his government is repressive.

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Speaking about the opposition leader, Museveni said that:

"Bobi Wine went to America and said that people should not come invest in Uganda. That means he is an enemy of progress in Uganda. When you go and tell foreigners that they should not come and invest in our country, you are waging war on our prosperity. So why then do you want to come and take advantage of that prosperity."

In line with his general displeasure with Wine's background in entertainment, he went on to add that, "We are not here for a show, we are not theater goers, we are people who are here to deal with very big issues of Uganda and Africa."

Museveni's comments come just after Wine's Independence Day music concert was cancelled by the police and his private home in Busabala surrounded.

After Wine announced that he would be officially running for the presidency in the 2021 elections a few months ago, he has been under the scrutiny of Museveni's government. While Museveni initially insisted that Wine was not a threat, it's become evident that the musician-turned-politician is one of the most formidable political rivals that he's faced in his 33 years in office. Wine, or the "Ghetto President" as he's become affectionately known, has set himself up as a champion for the poor and committed to bringing an end to Museveni's reportedly repressive government.