National Unity Platform (NUP) party president and a two-term presidential contender Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, widely known as Bobi Wine, has sharply criticised Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Adonia Ayebare, accusing him of defending historical injustices and acting as an intellectual apologist for those in power.
In a statement shared on his X account early Friday, Kyagulanyi likened Ayebare to figures who have, in the past, supported oppressive regimes, cautioning that such actions would ultimately be judged harshly by history.
He suggested that while Ayebare may be acting to safeguard his position, there should be limits to how far one goes in defending wrongdoing. Kyagulanyi further claimed that his political success had unsettled those aligned with the establishment, adding that although Uganda would eventually attain freedom, history would not be forgiving to those who sided with repression.
Kyagulanyi’s comments came in response to Ayebare’s recent remarks dismissing his international engagements as more of a publicity effort than meaningful advocacy.
Ayebare argued that Kyagulanyi has not been restricted from travelling, noting that if authorities intended to block him, mechanisms such as an Interpol red notice would have been used. He also urged the opposition leader to address his concerns within Uganda and downplayed the significance of his foreign connections, including activist Jeffrey Smith.
Meanwhile, Kyagulanyi confirmed that he has begun a series of international engagements aimed at drawing attention to issues surrounding Uganda’s disputed January 15 presidential election.
Earlier in the week, he revealed that his engagements had started with meetings on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
The trip marks his first visible, in-person international activity after spending more than eight weeks in undisclosed locations following the elections.
