Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine who was arrested today enroute to police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters in Kibuli, has been charged with disobedience of statutory duty and remanded to Luzira prison until May 2.
Prosecution on Monday stated that Bobi Wine, his brother Fred Nyanzi Ssentamu, one David Lule, Edward Sebufu alias Eddie Mutwe and other still at large disobeyed lawful orders by holding an illegal protest contrary to section 116 of the Penal Code Act. The state further alleges that the accused, refused to coordinate and cooperate with police to ensure that all participants in the demonstration were unarmed and peaceful.
He pleaded not guilty and has been charged alongside disc joker (DJ) David Lule, Julius Katongole a student and resident of Namasuba, his brother Fred Nyanzi Ssentamu and his bodyguard, Edward Sebufu alias Eddie Mutwe.
Bobi Wine, together with a group of other activists, last year, held a demonstration in downtown Kampala against the Shs200 excise duty for use of Over the Top (OTT) services (commonly known as social media tax), saying it was unfair since Ugandans were already paying for taxes on airtime. Bobi Wine, then managed to evade arrest when he disguised himself and jumped on a random boda boda straight to parliament where MPs enjoy immunity from arrest.
Predictably, Bobi Wine on his way to Kibuli to honour the police summons was joined by a mammoth crowd which paralysed traffic flow for some time in Kalerwe, Bwaise and some parts of Kamwokya and Mulago. He’d been summoned by police for defying the inspector general of police’s orders on Easter Monday when he was barred from holding a music concert at his One Love Beach in Busabala last week.
Police fired teargas and rubber bullets to disperse the charged supporters who hurled stones at security in return. The youthful protested also blocked off several roads leading out of town. Bobi Wine defiantly drove Busabala to what he claimed was to address the media about his next course of action since police had blocked or cancelled at least 124 of his concerts in the last two years.
He was arrested and placed under house arrest until Friday last week. Bobi Wine has since called for massive protests against President Museveni’s government.
