Kyadondo East member of Parliament, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine, has Thursday afternoon been remanded by the General Court Marital in Gulu, which charged him with unlawful possession of a firearm.
In a statement by the army spokesperson, Brig. Richard Karemire, Bobi Wine will be remanded until August 23, when he will be presented again to the military court.
“Consequently, Hon Kyagulanyi has today been arraigned before the General Court Martial in Gulu and charged under S 119 (1) (h) of the UPDF Act, 2005 on accounts of unlawful possession of firearm and ammunition,” read Karemire’s statement in part.
MP Kyagulanyi was arrested in the beginning of this week following deadly violence which ensued in Arua municipality, when supporters of Mr Kassiano Wadri (MP elect) who were holding an illegal procession in the city centre (according to security), allegedly pelted stones on the presidential convoy, destroying the rear glass of one of his cars. The President was in the area to solicit votes for his party candidate, Ms Nusura Tiperu.
Sanity was reinstated by security agencies which arrested several people including MPs Gerald Karuhanga and Paul Mwiru, in the scuffle which saw Bobi Wine’s driver, Kawuma Yasin shot dead.
The army spokesperson has said that security agencies later on arrested key organisers and participants including Hon Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi and that during the search of his hotel room, he was found possessing an arm and ammunition which are ordinarily a monopoly of the Defence Forces.
According to reports, only his two lawyers Medard Lubega Ssegona and Asuman Basalirwa have been given access to see him during the court sitting.
His wife Barbra Kyagulanyi’s efforts to glance at her husband were futile as she and other relatives were locked outside the military court in Gulu.
While speaking to a local television (NBS), lawyer Ssegona stressed that Bobi Wine in in critical condition with several wounds on his body.
“Only me and Mr Basalirwa were given access to Hon Kyagulanyi, but his situation is worse.He can’t stand and sit and neither can he speak. His body including the face is swollen,” Mr Ssegona said.
He added that the musician who turned politician, has wounds on the ear and the head adding that he was incoherent with the charges put against him.
We have also confirmed that Bobi Wine has Thursday been flown from Gulu to Makindye military barracks in Kampala.
Opposition politicians Kizza Besigye and Mugisha Muntu have already described his arrest as based on “tramped” up charges.