Buchaman Cries Foul: Claims M7 Government Is Shunning Him Over Past Ties With Bobi Wine , No Money For Him

Musician Mark Bugembe, better known by his stage name Buchaman, has voiced deep frustration with what he describes as systematic neglect by the Ugandan government. The veteran artist, who once shared stages and songs with opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, alias Bobi Wine, now accuses authorities of deliberately sidelining him and blocking his community-based initiatives.

In a candid interview with Sanyuka TV, Buchaman lamented that despite his visible support for the ruling government, he has been denied funding for several projects designed to uplift ghetto youths — the very demographic he says he understands better than most.

“I have developed many programs meant to change the lives of ghetto youths,” Buchaman explained. “But each time I present them, the process gets frustrated by people in power. They think I’m still Bobi Wine’s man, so they shut the doors in my face.”

According to Buchaman, several government officials, including those close to President Yoweri Museveni and Gen. Salim Saleh, have become suspicious of his loyalty because of his long-standing history with Bobi Wine. The two were once musical brothers under the Firebase Crew, a group that rose from the slums of Kamwokya to national fame through socially conscious reggae and dancehall music.

However, as Bobi Wine transitioned from music to politics, taking a bold stand against the Museveni regime, their paths sharply diverged. Buchaman later declared his allegiance to the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), even taking up roles that aligned with government initiatives targeting youth empowerment. Still, he now says that his loyalty has not been rewarded.

“President Museveni and Gen. Saleh know very well what I can do for this country,” he insisted. “But they continue to ignore me because they believe I’m still connected to Bobi Wine. They fear that if I get funding, it will indirectly benefit him. They want to wait until I’m gone before recognizing my contribution.”

Visibly emotional, the artist described his current situation as one of betrayal and abandonment, saying that the same system he chose to serve has left him struggling financially and creatively.

“I have been loyal to this government,” he said. “I have defended it publicly, even when it was unpopular to do so. But look at me now — I’m broke, and my projects have stalled. All I wanted was support to help ghetto youths reform, but because of my past with Bobi Wine, I’m treated like an outcast.”

Buchaman revealed that his community programs, which focus on rehabilitating street youth, promoting talent development, and fighting crime, have repeatedly been turned down for funding — something he attributes to political mistrust rather than the merit of his ideas.

Observers note that Buchaman’s predicament highlights the deep divisions and lingering suspicions that continue to shape Uganda’s political and entertainment landscape. Once symbols of unity and social consciousness in the music industry, former Firebase partners now represent opposite sides of Uganda’s political divide — one seen as a revolutionary and the other as a loyalist.

Yet Buchaman maintains that his focus is not politics but empowerment and redemption for the ghetto communities that raised him.

“The ghetto needs action, not politics,” he said. “I just want a chance to prove that I can transform lives — not through rallies, but through real projects.”

As he continues to push for recognition and support, Buchaman’s story serves as a stark reminder of how personal histories and political allegiances can shape one’s fortunes in Uganda’s cultural landscape — where loyalty is often rewarded, but suspicion can be career-ending.