An open political confrontation has unfolded on X between National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi, known as Bobi Wine, and Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa, with both leaders trading sharp accusations over alleged candidate buy-offs and defections.
Bobi Wine ignited the exchange by accusing Tayebwa of orchestrating what he described as a fraudulent scheme aimed at exploiting President Yoweri Museveni’s alleged obsession with neutralising opposition candidates.
“Here is Museveni’s cold-blooded henchman, Thomas Tayebwa, reading to dictator Museveni three people who have never been NUP candidates,” Bobi Wine wrote.
“They know how desperate he is to buy all our candidates and have now started extorting money from him using ghost candidates.”
Kyagulanyi claimed that the alleged scheme could be costing taxpayers billions of shillings.
“Assuming they told him that they are paying Shs400 million to each of the three, that’s Shs1.2 billion—taxpayers’ money which should be fixing schools, roads and hospitals,” he said.
He went further to accuse those involved of manipulating the President.
“Taking advantage of his old age and a corrupt mind, they parade fake candidates to him because they know the moment he hears NUP, he releases money to pay them off,” Kyagulanyi alleged.
According to the NUP leader, even politicians who defect allegedly do not receive the full amounts.
“We’ve been told that even the real candidates who sell out, the criminals involved normally deduct some ‘commission’ off the bribes Museveni pays them,” he said, describing the situation as “mafia-style—thief stealing from the chief thief.”
He went on to accuse the Deputy Speaker of being directly involved in the alleged fraud, declaring: “UGANDA WILL BE FREE.”
Tayebwa responded with a detailed rebuttal, partly conceding an error but rejecting the central accusations.
“Respectfully my brother, let’s be clear on the facts,” Tayebwa said. “It’s true one of the presented comrades was not a NUP flagbearer and I regret that. Such a mistake won’t be repeated.”
However, Tayebwa insisted that defections from NUP are genuine and widespread, not manufactured.
“What remains a fact is that tens of your official parliamentary flagbearers have crossed to NRM and even withdrawn from the race,” he wrote, citing “over 250 NUP leaders from Kyenjojo, Bundibugyo and Bunyangabo” who crossed on December 24.
According to Tayebwa, the defectors cited NUP’s “lack of a clear agenda for the future of our country” as the reason for leaving.
He also criticised Bobi Wine for disparaging former supporters.
“For you to brand everyone who leaves you a sell-out is very unfortunate,” Tayebwa said. “There was and there is no need to pay any of these people. They’re approaching us themselves and more are coming.”
Turning the allegations back on NUP, Tayebwa claimed the opposition leadership made unfulfilled financial promises.
“They tell me you promised each one of them Shs50 million to take your flag only to be abandoned along the way,” he alleged.
The Deputy Speaker defended the ruling party’s approach, saying persuasion—not bribery—was its strategy.
“Politics is about engaging and we shall continue to do that with those opposed to NRM, including you and your close confidants,” he said, adding, “We don’t need to buy anyone.”
Tayebwa called for restraint in political language. “Why would someone be labelled cold-blooded because of talking to your supporters?” he asked. “If we are to have a credible conversation about our country’s future, let’s not preach water but drink wine.”
The public exchange highlights intensifying political tensions as accusations of defections, inducements and credibility dominate Uganda’s increasingly polarised political space.