Northern Uganda singer Lucky Bosmic Otim has confirmed that he met President Museveni and quit Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine’s People Power Movement.
Otim confirmed the development in an interview with Daily Monitor.
Here are some of the excerpts:
We understand you met
President Museveni, when did you meet him and what was the purpose of your
meeting?
I met President Museveni on December 30, 2019. There were three burning issues
which prompted our meeting. First, I got an invite from the President to meet
him so he hears directly from me about the non-payment for my song, Mzee wa
kazi Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, which I composed [during the 2006 campaign]. All other
singers were paid except me. So when I got the call I went to follow up on my
sweat.
Second was that some wrong elements had started framing me, writing doctored
reports against me to have government arrest and imprison me. Their plan is
that when the next election arrives, it should get Bosmic in jail because they
fear when elections get me out and free, contesting against me would not be
easy. Their desire is to technically knock me out of the nomination.
There are some top army leaders we have fought with on the streets, who claim I am against government and as such they should deal with me, but I won’t disclose their names, but Gulu residents can bear me witness. There were also some politicians colluding with some top army commanders and some RDCs to fulfill their political plans. Because they fear me, they want to use the army and RDCs to subdue me.
The other reason why I met President Museveni was that we, the children of former soldiers, who died during the 1986 takeover of government by Museveni, are being intimidated by some people. Each time any wave of arrests starts in Kitgum District – on allegations of rebel activities – there are some wrong political elements here in Kitgum who mobilise soldiers and launch an operation at the home of the late Chief Justo Obita of Koc Labongo Amida, the former District Police Commander of Kitgum. Arrests would be carried out at his homestead, alleging that his children were rebels or are robbing people with guns or that they are recruiting rebels.
Going to President Museveni was to find a way of becoming a free citizen again, because I wasn’t free anymore. I needed to be free from all these blockages they put against me; blocking my shows. Unless I sing my family will not eat; will not have education.
So I decided to become free again since People Power is not catering for my family’s welfare – medication, education and security. Living a life without proper security for your family is the worst life ever on earth. This is what I have to say to warn our youth: before somebody engages you into anything, first seek your own security and that of your family.
You said one of the
reasons for meeting President Museveni was to be paid for your 2006 campaign
song, have you now been paid?
I am only waiting to receive [it]. This time it was the President who talked
about my money. It is not a rumour [anymore]; it is a promise from the
President that my money will now be paid very soon. Which I am very happy
about.
How much are you
expecting from President Museveni?
My money that should be paid is Shs300m.
There was uproar on
social media platforms when you attended NRM party national conference at
Namboole Stadium and also performed. Have you now crossed over to the ruling
NRM party?
My going to Namboole was premised on two reasons: one; as a businessman, a
singer, I got a deal. Two; discussing my security in this situation I am in;
that is what took me to Namboole. I want to tell you frankly that politicians
who fear me because of upcoming 2021 elections are framing me that I don’t
support the government; that I am recruiting rebels. That I should be arrested
and imprisoned. So I am now using my brain. I went to Namboole as a
businessman. Two, I went to meet President Museveni on the issue of my
security. Because these same people incited People Power against me, that they
should dismiss me from People Power. So my life is at a risk. The only solution
is to go to the Government that I pay tax for. It should be the one responsible
to protect my life. Bosmic Otim is entitled to all the rights he deserves.
When you told
President Museveni you are going to contest in Kitgum Municipality, what was
his response?
I told the President I would contest for Kitgum Municipality parliamentary seat
in the 2021, and I will defeat anyone who dares me and dares to disturb the
people of Acholi. He asked me ‘how sure are you?’ I assured him I was 100 per
cent sure because I have the support of the people. Then he just laughed while
saying: ‘when the time is ripe, we shall see’. I told President Museveni that
mine was not a joke; when the time comes he could come and confirm for himself.
And If there are people out there who think that I am simply joking, then it is
up to them.
People are also asking, under
which political party will you vie for the Kitgum Municipality parliamentary
seat?
I want to confirm this now. If my elders tell me to stand under UPC or DP or
NRM party flag, I will abide, but not under People Power.
First, I had a lot of belief in People Power, but I discovered that People Power
is just for People at the centre. They don’t mind about us and our children.
They just want to use us as slaves to uplift themselves so that when they
succeed tomorrow they will not care about us because they would have achieved
their goals.
The problem I saw with People Power is that when its officials are arrested nobody cares for us. No one cared for the injuries we sustained in the struggle; you heal like a dog, yet for them when they get injured, they are promptly assisted. People at the centre of People Power who were also injured apart from Bobi Wine were taken to South Africa and Nairobi [Kenya] for treatment. But I went to Nairobi on my own to get treatment.I am suffering. I have unsettled bills from hospitals and elsewhere, I have debts for music shows I failed to perform because they couldn’t allow me to hold the shows – you try to perform but soldiers come and block you. You go to record songs in the studio but you are blocked by security forces. You can’t sing; we have not honoured some contracts and yet we cannot even refund the money paid as deposits, because when we return the money there won’t be any left for us to feed our families since government has blocked all our avenues for survival. It has not been easy. So People Power put me in a hard place. So the party affiliation I will identify with will be any political group my Acholi elders will have advised me to carry its flag, but not People Power.
Are you still the
People Power youth wing coordinator for northern Uganda?
Officially I have said I am not with People Power right now. Because they did
not demonstrate to me enough support. When I got into problems they did not
support me. People Power never did anything in my life. When I was arrested,
People Power never visited me in prison, when I was admitted to hospital with
injuries sustained in the struggle they never came to support me. When we went
to Kampala, People Power never even visited me, instead they were calling me to
go to the home of Bobi Wine with my head injury. People Power does not have
humanity.
Anybody who cannot support you in your most difficult hour, when you are in
prison; sick in hospital or arraigned in court, that is not your person.
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