KAMPALA – Since Monday, April 22, Police and the military have been deployed at Hon. Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine’s house in Magere, Wakiso district.
According to legislator’s statement, he has been told by officers that he is under house arrest following his attempt to move out.
“It is today when I attempted to move out of my home that the police told me that I am under house arrest,” Bobi Wine said in a statement.
“My home is under siege. They have surrounded my fence and installed barricades on all roads leading to my home,” he added.
Bobi Wine says he was in an attempt to go to police headquarters in Naguru to deliver his notification about demonstrations against police brutality, injustice and misuse of authority but was blocked.
“I was headed to Police headquarters in Naguru to deliver a notification about our planned peaceful demonstrations against police brutality, injustice and misuse of authority.”
He says his lawyers were blocked too from accessing police headquarters on his behalf as they were ordered to leave the headquarters’ gate.
“When they blocked me, I asked my lawyers to deliver the letter, but they too have been blocked and stopped from accessing the police headquarters. A public office! They were ordered to leave the gate to the police headquarters immediately or face arrest! Since they have refused to receive our notification as commanded by the law, we shall go ahead and demonstrate peacefully as guaranteed by the constitution. This is our country!.”
On Sunday, April 21, Police blocked Bobi Wine’s Easter concerts a day after clearing them to take place.
Police had last week set stringent conditions under the Kyadondo East MP can hold his concerts.
But in a letter dated April 19, 2019, police director of operations Asumani Mugenyi says Bobi Wine cannot hold his shows because he has always disregarded the set and agreed upon guidelines for such activities.
Police cordon off the Busabala one Love beach venue ahead of Bobi Wine’s concert. (PML Daily PHOTO)
“This serves to inform you that despite the elaborate and clear guidelines well stipulated in our correspondences and the previous meetings we have had regarding the preparations for, the manner, the conduct, the characterises and security demands from your side, the previous concerns have fallen short of agreed-upon positions in line with lawfulness, safety and security,” Mr Mugenyi’s letter also copied to Abtex Promotions, the organisers; Kampala Metropolitan Police Commander and all regional police commanders reads in part.
“For example, the disregard for the set and agreed upon guidelines has quite often resulted in acts related to public nuisance, violation of traffic rules and regulations and various other misconduct which [is] not only a breach of the law but endangers lives of Ugandans, some of whom are not part of the revelers,” he adds.
However, on Monday afternoon Bobi Wine declared a peaceful demonstration after police dropped him to his home in Magere, Wakiso district.
Addressing journalists at his home shortly after being dropped by Police, Bobi Wine said he and his team will peacefully demonstrate against Police illegalities.
“Tomorrow I will walk to Naguru Police headquarters to deliver the notification [intending to demonstrate peacefully],” he said.
At Busabala, he said, Police confiscated his cars and that it has stopped him from working to get money for buying fuel so, “I will use public means or even walk on foot to take the letter to the police tomorrow.”
