Police, army storm Bobi Wine return planning meeting, arrest organiser

KAMPALA – A meeting intended to organize the return of Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine in Kampala on Tuesday ended in disarray after police and army officers stormed the venue, confiscated their materials and arrested one of the organisers.

The meeting, which took place in Kamwokya, a city suburb, sought to deliberate on how to welcome Bobi Wine, who is currently in the US for treatment following alleged torture at the hands of soldiers of the Special Forces Command that guard the President. However, the date for his return is not yet known.

Some of youths at the meeting donned in t-shirts emblazoned with the slogan ‘People Power, Our Power’ while others had posters of Bobi Wine.

However, security forces dispersed it, sending the organisers scampering for their lives. Kamwokya is where Bobi Wine grew up and owns several properties. The area has also been a scene of sporadic protests since the MP was arrested.

Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire said the meeting was illegal. “This demonstration or meeting was not authorized because they had not written to police. We came in to stop it and we arrested their ringleader. We also recovered some items,” Mr Owoyesigyire said.

He identified the suspect as Mr Ibrahim Agaba. “Agaba is being held at Kira Road police station. We have preferred charges of inciting violence against him. We advise youth to stop engaging in illegal demonstrations,” Mr Owoyesigyire said.

Police added that the gathering also wanted to protest the detention of Mr Kyagulanyi’s bodyguard Eddie Ssebuufu alias Eddie Mutwe who has been in custody for a fortnight. He was on Tuesday charged with treason at Gulu Magistrate’s court and remanded to Gulu Central Prison until October 1 when he re-appear in the same court with 33 others, including MPs in relation to stoning the Presidential motorcade in the Arua Municipality chaos.

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