By Opalakiro Lo’Kide
Bobi Wine came to Bukedea District on Saturday. He came with his usual “Museveni must go” message. He hoped for big crowds and excitement. But he got nothing. Bukedea is home to Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, so as a known imperial puppet, Bobi had wanted to put up theatrical show there to impress his masters. He got nothing. Instead, he was left blaming grass for being green!
Most people at his rally were his advance team. Others were his travel crew. A few diehard fans rode motorcycles from nearby districts. They just wanted to hear him sing his hit song Kadingo. Real Bukedea locals? They stayed away. The district didn’t care at all.
This happened in Bukedea, a place in Teso sub-region, eastern Uganda. Why did locals ignore him? They have strong reasons to support NRM, President Museveni, and their Woman MP, Speaker Anita Among. It’s about the real ongoing transformation in their district. It’s also about tough history they remember well.
Let me explain step by step: Rt Hon Anita Among is Bukedea’s Woman MP, Speaker of Parliament and the Second National Vice Chairperson (Female). In 2021, she won unopposed. Again in 2026, she’s returning unopposed! That’s how much her people genuinely trust her. She delivers results you can see and use.
She started savings groups. There are two per village. They help youth and women save and grow money. She supported SACCOs too. One for teachers. One for bodaboda riders. One for Muslims. Even one for musicians. She also gave musicians a music studio.
She handed out tractors. They went to youth groups, religious leaders, women, and farmers. Now they farm faster and easier. On health, she built a hospital. It brings good care closer to home. She built a maternity ward at Kolir Health Centre III. She pushed for Kachumbala Health Centre IV to grow bigger. She’s donated three ambulances. They rush sick people to hospitals fast.
For schools, she built Bukedea Comprehensive Schools. They give kids quality education nearby. She opened a radio station. Locals get news and updates easily. She even built a stadium. It’s for sports and community gatherings.
Women love her free gomesi gifts. It shows respect and dignity. Her investments have created hundreds of jobs in Bukedea. She gave bicycles to religious leaders and LCs.
During COVID-19, she stepped up big. She went on radio to teach people how to stay safe. She gave out soap, sanitizers, and hand-washing stations. The list of her community development initiatives is long and keeps adding!
Why show up for Bobi Wine? People had better things to do. SACCO meetings to share their end of year dividends for Christmas. Tractor farming. Listening to her radio. No time for for hooligans!
Bukedea has seen hard times. In the 1980s and early 1990s, Bukedea was a known battle ground for rebels from UPA and the army. That ravaged the area; burned villages. Thousands lived in IDP camps. Hunger and sickness killed many.
Karimojong raiders made it worse. They stole cattle and ruined farms. No peace. No food. Children died often. Aibok Acok and Osepula was the order of the day as people were slaughtered like chicken. It took blood and sacrifice of Museveni with NRM to restore order. By mid-1990s, peace returned. People started farming again. Markets grew busy. The people of Bukedea vividly remember who brought safety.
Now Museveni’s Parish Development Model (PDM) helps since 2022. It gives money to parishes for SACCOs. Households get support for farming, trade, and skills.
Government reports show PDM succeeding in Teso, with some sub parishes in Bukedea already registering 100 percent disbursement. It puts cash in pockets through savings and loans. When Museveni was in the district recently, thousands of locals turned up with the loudest cheer. Bobi Wine with his bike fans? No one cares. Locals see the link: NRM gave peace and stability, and is now tranforming lives. Now PDM and Anita give jobs and growth.
Bukedea sees Bobi as all talk, no real help. He brings youth to clash with police. He films it for videos. Then he travels abroad for visas, talks, and awards. He speaks badly about Uganda there.
Locals want local fixes, not foreign praise. He shouts about corruption but gives no plan. He blames Museveni for jobs but ignores PDM, tractors and SACCOs. His rallies block roads but skip bush solutions.
After their wars, losing family in camps, they don’t trust his fast rise from musician to leader. It feels risky. At rally time, they stayed home. Busy with Anita’s development initiatives, gomesi, or farms.
Meanwhile on a deeper thought, NUP is not a party to trust with leading Uganda, it can’t even lead itself well. Since 2021, it’s full of fights. Many MPs and leaders have left the party.
People question accountability for donor money. NUP is Bobi’s family business, tribal as it is, no Iteso in CEC. It doesn’t care much about non Bantu tribes and that’s makes it not nationalistic.
Bukedea is yellow such is the reality Bobi took home on Saturday, his team can only generate and circulate AI pictures to make up for it, like they always do!
The Writer Opalakiro is a resident of Bukedea
