“Kneeling Before the Crown?” Stella Nyanzi Blasts Balimwezo Over NUP Loyalty Display

Exiled activist and controversial poet Dr. Stella Nyanzi has launched a fierce critique of Nakawa East legislator Hon. Ronald Balimwezo after he was seen kneeling before National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine.

The gesture, which occurred at the party’s Kavule headquarters, has stirred debate across political and social platforms.

Nyanzi, known for her outspoken and unfiltered rhetoric, condemned the act as symbolic of unhealthy political reverence. “The idol worship in some political parties makes even Baganda men kneel before their immoral idol,” she wrote. “To minimize the power-play, the buffoonish idol mockingly joined his worshippers on the ground. What buffoonery!”

Her criticism appears aimed not only at Balimwezo but at the broader culture of hero-worship within opposition spaces. She argued that such dramatics erode democratic principles and reinforce autocratic tendencies disguised as revolutionary zeal.

The viral image of Balimwezo on his knees has divided opinion. Supporters called it a mark of respect and loyalty, while critics see it as a red flag for emerging cult-like leadership dynamics within NUP.

Nyanzi’s words struck a chord among some opposition members who are increasingly questioning internal party discipline and openness to dissent. Yet others dismissed her comments as an attempt to stay politically relevant from exile.

As NUP intensifies its preparations for the 2026 elections, such internal criticism could become more frequent, reflecting deeper tensions within Uganda’s opposition ecosystem.