Ssegona Speaks Out: “I Was Set Up by Bobi Wine Because He Feared My Wisdom” – The Busiro East Battle Escalates

In a dramatic turn of political events that continues to grip national attention, Busiro East MP Medard Lubega Segona has launched an all-out media campaign to expose what he calls a humiliating betrayal from within the National Unity Platform (NUP).

On Wednesday evening, the veteran legislator appeared on CBS Radio 89.2 FM, the Buganda Kingdom’s flagship station, to express what he described as his deep disappointment over what he terms a “conspiracy” to politically neutralize him.

Segona, who has long been seen as one of the more seasoned and cerebral members of the opposition party, didn’t mince words. He told millions of listeners during the prime-time radio show that he had received credible intelligence linking singer-turned-politician Mathias Walukagga to a covert plan reportedly sanctioned by NUP president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine.

“I got intelligence reports from inside Kavule to the effect that Walukagga, who all along had been my close ally, was instigated by Bobi Wine personally to go stand in Busiro East in order to contradict and humiliate me,” Segona stated, his voice heavy with frustration.

This revelation, according to Segona, only confirmed what Walukagga had allegedly been telling constituents on the ground—that his political bid was personally greenlit and backed by Bobi Wine himself.

“He went around bragging and telling residents he had specifically been instigated by Bobi Wine personally, who assured him the ticket would be his,” Segona added during the interview.

From Political Allies to Rivals

The fallout between Segona and Walukagga is especially shocking given their once-close political relationship. In the 2021 elections, Walukagga, known more for his kadongo kamu songs about social justice than political strategy, won the Kyengera/Nsangi mayoral seat under the NUP banner—with heavy support from Segona. At the time, Uganda was just emerging from the COVID-19 lockdown, and Walukagga, by Segona’s own account, was “as poor as a church mouse.”

“The solidarity and joint campaigning with Segona eased things a lot for him,” a source close to the MP said.

Their collaboration made sense at the time: Walukagga brought popularity among the youth and rural voters, while Segona brought gravitas, legal knowledge, and political experience. But the alliance began to unravel when Walukagga unexpectedly threw his hat into the ring for the Busiro East MP seat, directly challenging Segona. Initially, many dismissed the singer’s ambitions as a publicity stunt or mere celebrity banter. But things took a serious turn when Walukagga not only maintained his bid but also showed no signs of stepping down—even when Emmanuel Matovu Magoola, a well-financed defector from ANT, joined the race under the NUP umbrella.

“Bobi Wine Sent Him” – Segona Claims Conspiracy

Segona is now convinced that the entire drama was part of a premeditated plan to push him out of the party’s mainstream. He claims the confidence Walukagga has displayed throughout the process is not self-generated, but rather rooted in guarantees he received directly from Bobi Wine.

“He trivialized it all by asking me for proof that he indeed ever said those things to Walukagga,” Segona recounted, referring to a private conversation he had with Bobi Wine.

“I told him ‘I don’t have any such proof but I can repeat it in front of Walukagga because that’s what he has been telling people everywhere.’ I expected him to convene a meeting of myself, himself and Walukagga so we could resolve this matter, but he didn’t.”

The CBS appearance—aired during one of the station’s most listened-to political talk shows—also featured Aisha Kabanda, the NUP Deputy Secretary General, who attempted to defend the party’s decision to endorse Walukagga over Segona.

“Much as the whole country believes that Segona is a high-quality politician, the truth is that his popularity in the constituency had demonstrably declined,” Kabanda argued.

“There was a high risk of the party losing that Busiro East MP seat if the card wasn’t given to someone else.”

Segona, however, is not buying it. He says this is part of a wider purge within the NUP to sideline veteran and ideologically grounded politicians who might not agree with every directive from the top.

“There was always a conspiracy against me by Bobi Wine. He has been determined to get rid of credible veteran politicians inside his NUP party long before even the Mathias Mpuuga issue of the Shs500 million came up,” Segona asserted.

Online Backlash and Public Sentiment

What appears to be fuelling Segona’s continued defiance is the overwhelming support he has received from Ugandans online. Social media platforms have been ablaze with comments defending him, with many NUP supporters decrying what they see as disrespect—forcing a seasoned lawyer and legislator to fight for a party ticket with what they describe as a “low-grade politician” like Walukagga.

As things stand, the Busiro East flag bearer race has turned into a high-stakes political soap opera—one that raises serious questions about internal democracy within Uganda’s most vocal opposition party. Will Segona accept the party’s final verdict? Or will he, buoyed by public support, run as an independent or align with another political formation?

Whatever happens next, one thing is clear: the internal tremors within NUP are far from over, and the showdown between Segona, Walukagga, and Bobi Wine might just be the beginning of a larger reckoning within the party’s ranks.