“Awa Difo Arua!” Bobi Wine Hails Protest Vote, Recalls Kawuma’s Murder in Defiant Return » The Hoima Post –

ARUA CITY – In a charged and emotional return to Arua City, opposition leader Bobi Wine has hailed the people of West Nile as the “true definition of a protest vote,” praising their resilience in the face of what he described as state-sponsored intimidation.
The politician’s journey to Arua was itself a testament to the day’s tensions. He reported that a trip that should have taken a fraction of the time was stretched to four hours due to police blockades. Upon reaching the outskirts of the city in the Onduparaka area, his convoy was met not by supporters, but by police trucks positioned in the middle of the road, allegedly ready to deploy teargas.

Despite the hurdles, thousands of supporters defied the heavy security presence to attend a rally at the Barifa Stadium. In his address, Bobi Wine painted a vivid picture of their dedication.
“They have defied the teargas, the pepper spray, the police brutality and threats just to be part of us,” he declared. “These comrades accompanied us through the dusty roads under the scorching sun, braving long distances. We afterwards gathered at Barifa stadium where we delivered our message of liberation.”
For Bobi Wine, the visit to Arua was deeply personal and poignant. The city is etched in his memory as the site of a profound tragedy.
“Arua is too dear to me. It is the place where I survived the first state-orchestrated assassination attempt on my life,” he told the crowd, his voice laden with emotion. “My own driver and brother, Yasin Kawuma, was killed right here.”
He made a solemn pledge to the gathered crowd, vowing that justice for Kawuma and other victims of that day would remain a central goal. “We will ensure that justice is served for victims of this particular tragedy,” he asserted.
The rally culminated in a powerful affirmation of the region’s political spirit. Bobi Wine repeatedly invoked the Lugbara phrase “Awa difo,” meaning “I have arrived” or “I am here,” to roaring applause from the crowd.
“Arua city knows what the protest vote is all about. Uniting together for a common cause. Awa difo West Nile! Awa difo Arua!” he proclaimed, framing the upcoming electoral efforts as a unified stand for liberation and a rejection of the current administration.
The event concluded with the crowd chanting alongside him, solidifying Arua’s symbolic status as a key battleground and a beacon of political resistance in his movement.

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