Rwakafuzi,Bobi Wine and Hilderman at court
KAMPALA-Kyaddondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu popularly known as Bobi Wine has dragged government to court over police suspension of his performance activities in various locations in the country. The suit enjoins the Government of Uganda and Kampala Metropolitan Police Commander Frank Mwesigwa.
It all started when Mwesigwa issued a letter blocking Bobi Wine’s show in Mukono. By default, the letter showed that the singer would not be allowed to perform at live concerts in the near future. Frank Mwesigwa wrote that police was not granting permission for the show because the artiste uttered words that could incite the public, at a recent concert at One Love Beach.
“Unfortunately we are not granting permission for the show because during the previous show at One Love Beach Busabala, he uttered words that are inciteful (sic) to the public and he is now under investigations,” Mr Mwesigwa’s wrote on October 19 in response to the promoters Balunywa Promotions Ltd, request for clearance.
Today, the singer with his lawyer, Ladislaus Rwakafuzi flanked by Singer Dr.Hilderman, went to the High Court-Civil division, where he petitioned his ban.
“A declaration that the refusal by police to let the applicant (Bobi Wine) stage his music shows in Kampala and Uganda generally is a violation of his constitutional guarantees to the right to protection of law under article 21 (1), a violation of his right to fair hearing guaranteed article 28(1), a violation of his constitutional guarantees to the freedom of speech, expression, assembly, association and conscience in article 29 and the right to work in article 40(2) of the constitution,” Bobi Wine’s court application number 313 reads in part.
In a lengthy post on social media, Bobi Wine expressed his disenchantment with the ban, calling it an infringement on his economic rights. In his address to journalists at the High Court, he said “as a Ugandan, I have a right to do business like any other musician. I decided to run to court because police, which is supposed to protect me as I enjoy my rights is instead violating them.”
One of his managers informed this reporter that Bobi Wine seeks UShs 300 million in damages. “He makes UShs 30 million a week. Ten shows will lead to a loss of UShs 300 million,” the manager says.
