PARLIAMENT – Members of Parliament have described as unfair and dishonest for government to continue blocking Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine from holding his music concerts.
The MPs, who were reacting to Internal Affairs minister Jeje Odongo’s explanation for obstructing Mr Kyagulanyi from performing in Jinja last week, said continuing to block him is winning him public sympathy.
Odongo attracted the wrath of MPs when he claimed police blocked Mr Kyagulanyi because he was not on the list of artistes to perform. He also claimed Bobi Wine had led a procession on Jinja streets, disrupting traffic and causing
disharmony.
Kyagulanyi first hit back at the minister.
“I find the statement by the minister to be dishonest. The minister mentioned I was not one of the artistes supposed to perform yet I was the main artiste – with a contract, paid to perform,” Bobi Wine said.
Both MPs from the opposition and ruling party condemned the police for blocking Bobi Wine.
“Stopping his shows in that manner borders on violation of the Constitution,” Bugiri Municipality MP Asuman Basalirwa said.
“The issue at stake is about economic rights, the right to practice. When you are dealing with economic rights, then you must adopt a liberal approach. The guidelines being issued by the police are illegal; it is the minister who is supposed to issue the guidelines,” he added.
Busongora South MP Jackson Mbaju accused government of being scared of Mr Kyagulanyi.
James Waluswaka also said government should stop winning Bobi Wine public sympathy with its actions.
Sam Bitangaro (Bufumbira South), David Abala (Ngora County), Robert Kasule Sebunya (Nansana Municipality) and William Nzoghu (Busongora North) also condemned government in blocking Bobi Wine.
