NAGGALAMA – Police have on the afternoon of Monday January 6, transferred to Nagalama Police Station, the celebrity musician-turned-politician Bobi Wine after he was arrested ahead of his presidential consultative meetings.
Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi a Member of Parliament for Kyadondo East, was arrested after he planned to hold a consultative meeting at Our Lady of Good Counsel church in Gayaza, Catholic Parish.
Police said Bobi Wine was planning an illegal public assembly before they transferred the budding opposition figure to Naggalama police station, about 30km east of the capital.
News of Bobi Wine’s transfer to Naggalama was confirmed by a handler of his Twitter account, who said the youthful legislator had been ‘driven to Naggalama at breakneck speed’.
“Afraid of the growing protests in Kasangati, police is driving Bobi [Wine] & other leaders at breakneck speed to Naggalama. #Telikuzikiza”
Police had earlier used teargas and water cannon to disperse a gathering of Bobi Wine’s supporters, who had gathered at the venue for the meeting.
Police set off stun grenades and teargas in Kasangati Town Council as tensions rose after Police blocked his meeting.
Police have also arrested NTV Uganda reporter Arnold Sseremba alongside NBS’s Eddy Kisekka and Radio Simba’s Ssematimba Bwejiire.
In the same scuffle, one of NTV Uganda drivers Moses Egesa was partially hit by a teargas canister.
This, as they covered the arrest of presidential hopeful Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine after blocking his meeting.
Bobi Wine who was briefly detained at Kasangati Police Station was bundled into the back of police van along with several of his supporters, and other opposition leaders including People Power spokesperson Joel Ssenyonyi.
His arrest on Monday contributed to chaos in Gayaza as police and Bobi Wine supporters clashed.
Several people were wounded as police fired bullets and teargas, while Bobi Wine supporters responded by hurling rocks.
Under the 2000 election law, presidential “aspirants” may carry out “nationwide consultation” in the 12 months before their official nomination as candidates.
The law requires aspirants to “introduce” themselves to the Electoral Commission (EC) and notify local authorities of events planned in their area.
On December 3, Bobi Wine sent a letter to the EC, officially introducing himself and outlining his plans, which he published on social media.
In the past, the police have warned opposition politicians that all events must also comply with the Public Order Management Act 2013.
Human Rights Watch has criticised that law as granting the police “wide discretionary powers over the content and management of public meetings”