The makers of a new documentary about the Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine have told RTÉ Entertainment that they hope their film will lead to the West reconsidering its support for the decades-long rule of President Yoweri Museveni.
Ugandan-born Moses Bwayo and expatriate Christopher Sharp's internationally acclaimed Bobi Wine: The People's President brings the story of Uganda's January 2021 general election to screens, as told through the eyes of pop star turned politician Bobi Wine - born Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu - his wife Barbie Kyagulanyi, and Wine's National Unity Platform.
In its assessment of the election campaign, the European Union said it regretted that "the disproportionate role given to security forces during the elections brought forth violence in the pre-electoral period, harassment of opposition leaders, suppression of civil society actors and media, and the raiding of a domestic observers [sic] office".
Amidst allegations of widespread voter fraud, the result saw President Museveni returned for a record fifth term with 58.38% of the vote and his nearest challenger Wine receiving 35.08%.
Bwayo and Sharp's documentary has arrived at the same time as international condemnation of Uganda's draconian new law against homosexuality and threats to cut aid and investment to the east African country.
"What we need to do and what we want the film to do is to say to the West, 'Make all this money and all this support you're giving - make it a condition of free and fair elections and that you don't abuse your people. That's all," Sharp told RTÉ Entertainment.
"If there were free and fair elections, Bobi would be president of Uganda and there'd be no risk to the West. Bobi would be far more West-looking," claimed Sharp.
The director said that the West's support of the Museveni government is due to the US, the UK, and others considering Uganda "stable".
"And it's stable because he does stuff for us," Sharp continued. "Like in Somalia against Al-Shabab - he sends 6,000 troops into Somalia. He does stuff in Eastern Congo, he does stuff in Sudan. So we think, 'Ok, he's fine'.
"But it's really tragic because Bobi would do all the same things and he would bring democracy back to Uganda. You say to him, 'What would you do in your first 100 days?' and he says, 'I'll spend the first 100 days making sure I can't stay in power'."
"What has really interested me, and this is what we wanted, people are asking, 'What can we do? What can we do about this situation?'" said Sharp's co-director Bwayo.
"When audiences see the film, they're greatly, greatly touched and they seek some kind of way that they can help. We set out to do a film that could bring audiences to that point. I'm honoured that we got to that point."
Since filming, Bwayo and his wife have fled Uganda and are currently seeking political asylum in the US.
"I was shot in the face while making this," he recounted. "I was locked up in prison... I was interrogated while making the film. So really, my life has literally changed.
"Living in Uganda [and] fleeing was difficult. This is my home and I have all these feelings on the flight leaving the country. You just don't know when you'll return - if you'll ever return at all.
"[But] It's been an honour being part of this film and a blessing that I was able to be in Uganda at the time when this task came up. I'm just honoured that I took it up. It's a blessing for me and Christopher to have been present to capture this moment in [the] history of our country."
"You imagine you've got all these young, disenfranchised, upset, poor people and all they want to do is take to the streets and start burning stuff down and rebelling," explained Sharp.
"And Bobi keeps telling them, 'No, no - no violence. We're democrats, we're going to do this at the ballot [box]'.
"When you see how these people have really been let down and all the governments came out - in America, England, well England barely; Europe, France - everyone came up [out] and said this was terrible, this was not a free and fair election. And within six months, it's just business as normal. They're ordering business with Museveni, they're supporting him, they're sending all the money.
"I've got massive admiration for all the people in Uganda and their bravery, their courage... I think they're the most wonderful, wonderful people. And I just then turn my eyes back to our governments and, you know, we need to do better."
"It's so disingenuous to actually believe that Africa is not capable of having democracy. I mean, it's shocking," he concluded.
"Just because of what's happened in the past, you can't say, 'They don't deserve democracy. Only we deserve democracy'. And that's the feeling - I mean, I speak purely as a Westerner - that's the feeling I get.
"It's a sort-of horrible thing where we look at Africa and we think, 'Ah, that's how they have to be ruled'. And it's tragic. We hope the film will change that."
