Kyadondo East Member of Parliament, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine has described siege on his Hotel in Jinja yesterday by security personnel as an act of shame on the part of the Police Force which he accuses of taking political sides.
Bobi Wine was resting from City hotel in Jinja ahead of a music show where he was slated to perform along other musicians, before security personnel condoned off the area, allegedly arresting a number of his colleagues.
Today, the youthful legislator has said in a statement that the UPF exhibited gross incompetence, saying, they have accepted to be used by politicians for personal interests.
“Uganda Police, what a shame that you constantly allow yourselves to be used to break the law! Last night you once again exposed your partisanship, gross incompetence and a pathetic derogation from your oath to serve all Ugandans without fear, favour or ill will, and to abide by the Constitution of this land,” he noted.
Also Read: Bobi Wine Says Police Has Besieged His Hotel, Arrested His Friends
He wondered why Police waited until night to arrest his colleagues and what he called an attack on him.
“Shame, shame and shame on you for attacking and waylaying me and my team in the night at my hotel in Jinja. Even when I had made my appearance in broad day light waiting to perform at a show which I was paid to sing at and which you cleared,” he added.
The singer has also revealed that despite the numerous roadblocks by the security with an intention of arresting him today, he managed to overcome them and travelled back to Kampala.
“After your raid, the Wanainchi in Jinja made it possible for us to elude you and any evil plans you harboured. The roadblocks you put on the way to sabotage my travel back were a shameful move. I managed to travel back to Kampala today morning,” Bobi Wine explained
On his music shows, Wine says he demands reasons as to why he has allegedly been blacklisted by security from organizing them, yet he says, music is his profession.
He said that it is better for Police and other security agencies to prosecute him in courts of law if he is a criminal instead of suppressing his music concerts without any clear reason.
“I still need answers as to why I am singled out and not allowed to practice my profession while my fellow artists are working! If I have a crime, why do you run away from me when I come to your offices? If I have a case to answer, why don’t you summon me and prosecute me as the law requires?” he asked
Also Read: Bobi Wine in ‘Hiding’ as Lawyer Amsterdam Condemns ‘Political Witch-hunt’
On December 5, he and a group of lawyers went to Police Headquarters in Naguru, demanding to meet the Inspector General of Police, Okoth Ochola over what they called persistent blocking of his music shows.
The IGP was not in office and they chose to leave a letter explaining their grievances.
Now, Bobi Wine wonders why the IGP hasn’t responded to issues he raised in a letter but instead continues to ‘witch-hunt’ him.
“Why is the IGP not responding to the protest letter I wrote to him last week about this unconstitutional conduct of the men and women who we pay to keep law and order? Why don’t you arrest me in broad day light if I have done anything unlawful?, asked a seemingly angry Wine
He however exonerated security officers effecting who arrested his colleagues, saying that they simply effect orders from other top ranking officers. He said that they are according to him, as disgruntled as the rest of Ugandans.
Also Read: Rights Watchdog, U.S Congressmen Condemn Govt for Curtailing Bobi Wine’s Rights
Lawyer Robert Amsterdam, US Congressmen and Rights Watchdog have already condemned the act and implored government to uphold Bobi Wine’s human rights.