KAMPALA – Thursday night, the Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine upon arriving from Bugiri, paid a visit to Ms. Nalongo Nana Mbarikiwa who is at Kampala Independent Hospital, following alleged torture by police.
Ms. Mbarikiwa was allegedly violently manhandled by a group of female and male police officers at the main entrance to the Uganda Police Force Headquarters in Naguru.
Mr. Kyagulanyi says Ms. Mbarikiwa had gone to notify the Police leadership of her peaceful protest against his (Bobi Wine) house arrest as well as other violations of Ugandan citizens’ human rights by security agencies.
“However, Nana is 7 and ahalf months pregnant. So she decided to protest in a softer way! She could not sit down and watch as the police and the military violate our rights- even when heavily pregnant! That is how much she detests injustice and impunity! So she made a trip to the Police Headquarters in Naguru with an intention of meeting the IGP or his deputy to inquire about why the police was illegally holding me under house arrest, and why the blatant abuse of rights by the police have only increased,” said Bobi Wine in a statement.
Ms. Mbarikiwa narrates that while she waited for clearance to access the police offices near the gate, a group of police officers jumped over her car and poured huge amounts of pepper spray and tear gas inside her car to force her out.
“While I was still seated inside my vehicle whose sunroof I had opened to avoid suffocation, a group of police officers jumped atop the vehicle and sprayed inside with pepper spray and teargas. They then forced themselves into the car. During the process, two policewomen held my legs apart and each sat on one as they twisted them. A policewoman, whose face I vividly remember, pulled my shorts down and forced her hand between my legs. I yelled in pain and told her that she was killing my baby but she squeezed even harder into my pelvis, yelling at me to “deliver the baby from here!” In the meantime, two or so other women twisted my arm, while another grabbed my heavy belly and squeezed it hard as if to force the foetus out. Thereafter, they violently pulled me out of the car, dragged me through the gate into the Police premises, and violently dropped me onto the ground. I fell on my back, vomited and then passed out. When I eventually came to, I found myself on a hospital bed surrounded by heavily armed police officers,” she narrated.
On Sunday, April 21, Police blocked Bobi Wine’s Easter concerts a day after clearing them to take place.
Police had earlier 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.
“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.
Police since had been deployed at the legislator’s house in Magere, Wakiso district, without allowing him to get out.
