Eddy Kenzo Declines to Back Bobi Wine’s Return to Stage

By Alex Don

Singer and Presidential Advisor on Music, Eddy Kenzo, has ruled out any possibility of lobbying President Yoweri Museveni to lift restrictions on National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, returning to the stage.

Speaking during a recent interview, Kenzo made it clear that he would not involve himself in such advocacy because Bobi Wine has consistently used music platforms to campaign against Museveni’s leadership.

I can’t advise President Museveni about permitting Bobi Wine to freely return to the stage and perform as he used to do because the latter wants to unseat the former from his office, Kenzo said.

Kenzo emphasized that Bobi Wine’s performances were rarely just entertainment but often political rallies in disguise.

In the many moments he has had the chance to step on the stage, he has been preaching the gospel of unseating President Museveni. The stage is his gunhe uses it to enlighten others to call for change. I’m not stupid enough to advise the president to allow him to perform while pushing that gospel, Kenzo added.

The BET Award winner also hinted at having unresolved personal issues with the NUP leader, though he stopped short of elaborating on their nature.

Meanwhile, Bobi Wine remains barred from organizing concerts and music shows in Uganda, despite his growing popularity at home and abroad. His music often infused with political messages has long been seen by authorities as a mobilizing tool for opposition politics.

The ban on his performances has been criticized by rights groups, who argue it infringes on artistic freedom and free expression.

For now, Kenzo’s latest remarks underline the deep divide between two of Uganda’s biggest music exports, one serving in government and the other leading the country’s main opposition party.