KAMPALA- Presidential hopeful Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine has described President Yoweri Museveni’s statement on his torture in Arua in 2018 as pathetic.
Bobi Wine and 36 other suspects were accused of stoning and smashing the windscreen of one of the presidential cars on August 13, 2018. This fateful day happened to be the last day of the Arua Municipality campaign by-election that sought to replace the assassinated former MP, Ibrahim Abiriga. The incident led to the death of Yasin Kawuma, Bobi Wine’s driver who was shot dead.
Now while passing out police officers on Friday, August 21, at Police Training School in Kabalye, Museveni said he protected the SFC soldiers who had been petitioned to court by Bobiwine.
“They[court] actually wanted to punish the boys [SFC] for torturing Bobi Wine. I said no! no! no! This was rubbish. It was the other people [Bobiwine] who were in wrong,” he said.
Museveni further claimed Bobiwine had been beaten properly in the right way.
“This was because the SFC people who are not police minded because they are used to doing other things, went to the room where the MP and other people were,they tried to box them so they boxed them. They acted in self defense and so it was in order,” said Museveni.
Commenting on his rival’s statement, Bobiwine said it’s shameful of the President to admit that he stood in the way of justice.
“Yoweri Museveni, Uganda’s military dictator justifying my torture to near death by his guards in Arua in 2018. Shamelessly, he admits that he stood in the way of justice and ensured that perpetrators were never punished! Not even those who shot Yasin Kawuma. He says this to embolden new soldiers and recruits to brutalise Ugandans as we near the election. He is commissioning them to go and commit atrocities against the people, well knowing that he’s got their back!,” Bobiwine said in a statement.
He noted that it’s pathetic that Museveni says he tried to box his guards who were armed with all sorts of weapons!
“I can assure Mr. Kaguta Museveni that you will never have the last laugh. All brutal despots throughout history have found great pleasure in the pain of their victims, but they never have the last laugh!,” Bobiwine lashed out.