Ofwono Opondo Response to Robert Amsterdam on Bobi Wine (06.09.2018)

Hon. Odongo Otto letter to Deputy Speaker Oulanyah: “Re: Displeasure of Your Comment of Parliamentary Proceedings during Report of Hon. Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine and Hon. Zaake Francis on 5th September 2018 (05.09.2018)

Unconfirmed reports that Bobi Wine was injected with Poison!

We are now hearing various reports, that Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine are in Critical Condition as the poison are taking its toll on his body. There are unverified reports that he injected with Dimethylmercury. This is not certain yet, but circulating. 

The U.S. Department for Labor made a Memorandum for Regional Administrators on the 9th March 1997 writes this about the poison: “Dimethylmercury belongs to a class of organic mercury compounds known as alkyl mercuries. It is used primarily in research. It is a colorless liquid described as having a weak, sweet odor. Dimethylmercury is readily absorbed through the skin. A severely toxic dose requires the absorption of less than 0.1mL.2 Many materials, including several plastics and rubber compounds, have also been shown to be permeable to this chemical. It is highly reactive and flammable. Because of its high vapor pressure (50-82 mm Hg at 20°C), the inhalation route of entry is also significant” (OSHA Hazard Information Bulletins – Dimethylmercury, 09.03.1997).

So, if this true, then Bobi Wine is in real danger. We can only hope these unverified reports are untrue. As we can hope they haven’t used it. Even if the problem, is that the Special Force Command (SFC) or the Uganda People’s Defense Force (UPDF) are by his own admission. Injected him twice with unknown substance, most likely not water or who knows what it was. As it made him sleepy and therefore, we can wonder what sort of substance they put into the man.

Injected twice:

One of them took a picture of me, (I hope to see that picture some day in my life). As we went out, I read “Arua airfield’ somewhere. I was taken into a waiting military helicopter and taken to a place which I later found out was Gulu 4th Division military barracks. It was at that facility that some military doctors came in and started giving me injections” (…) “ I can hardly recall what was contained in that statement! I was then returned to Gulu military barracks, put on a metallic bed and handcuffed on it. Very early morning, I was picked from this room and taken to another very secluded and dirty room where I was put on another bed, hand-cuffed again and injected with a drug that immediately sent me into a deep sleep” (Robert Kyagulanyi – ‘Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine: What Exactly Happened in Arua? My story’ (03.09.2018).

By this mere time, whatever they might have put, is unsure, as the speculation of damaged kidney and other parts of his body. As the torture have harmed him and who knows before the official statements on what really was done to him and what the doctors in the United States found in his system. That is why I am not saying they injected Dimethylmercury, but that the unverified reports of doing so. What we do know, is that injected something twice.

We have to see, as we await verified reports and official statements. As per now, there is spin-control from the state, that they didn’t touch him and treated him fairly. While we know that there was more damage done to the ones in custody by the state. Robert Kyagulanyi was tortured, but to what extent is still uncertain. We just know some bits and pieces, but not the whole story. I hope that will be addressed soon. Peace.

President Museveni says: “he can get rid of Parliament,” so he wants to rule by military decree, then.

“Between 1971 and 1979 (Idi Amin dictatorship – Ed), there was no parliament…Don’t think that you are in heaven; do what took you there. You should know where the power of that parliament comes from… in fact, I can do away with that parliament,” Museveni, also a retired army general, is quoted to have said. “And we brought it [parliament] back, so do whatever you are doing knowing…” Museveni reportedly said” (Sadab Kitatta Kaaya – ‘Museveni: I can do away with parliament’ 05.09.2018, link: https://www.observer.ug/news/headlines/58601-museveni-i-can-do-away-with-parliament).

President Museveni have told the Members of Parliament, that he can abolish the Parliament, if he wants too. Museveni said on the 27th August 2018 at Entebbe State House to the National Resistance Movement Caucus, that he can get rid of the Parliament and be the sole confined power in the Republic. He has said he can take it away and rule supreme.

If you thought that the man wasn’t serious, it took ages before ushered in Multi-Party elections, he took power in 1986, but the first election with that was in 2006. Therefore, he shown in the past, he only does “democratic” incentives, when he really has too. Not on his own merry, but by default.

Now, he says he can bring back military decrees and rule from up high, without any consideration of representatives of the people or MPs. As they are just questioning his reasoning and use of the military. This being in Arua and with the tortured MPs in question. That is why he is like this now. He wants to rule over the people without question, because he owns it.

In the same regard, people should stop paying taxes to him. Since he eats it anyways and shouldn’t care for paying OTT, VAT or anything as long as he don’t want to represent other than himself. He wants to be the kingpin, the almighty, who rules without questions. That is who is now. There isn’t anything he wants to control and if you question the military, than he brings the guns and suppress those ideas. That is why the Presidential Guards are in Kamwokya after arresting Bobi Wine. Because, he needs his sharp-shooters to send the message. That no one else has the power he does, because of the weapons, not because he has the support of the people in general.

That he now wants to talk like Amin and act like him, rule on military decree, shows how he lack fundamental understanding of all branches of state and how he wants to stifle it. He only opened up for things when it was beneficial, but now he wants to abolish it and take it away. He will soon wish back to Resistance Councils and the Movement System instead of the Multi-Party model, as that way he can monitor and control it in-house. That is who he is. However, will the people accept that in 2018?

This is not the same people as in 1986 or in 1996. This are doing this to people who never seen or touched the bush-war, the post-generation of that. He speaks of as it was his gift to give back parliament, soon he does the same with the kingdoms and whatever else he returned. As the pawns on his chess-set, as long as anyone obey it cool, but when they question him; your out of line!

Therefore, we now see how belittling and how hungry for the power the old man has. That he will even go to the levels of the ones he overthrow, just to prove a point. He already use the tactics of military courts, soldiers against civilians and torture like the ones before him. Now he wants to copy their military decree too. Soon there is no difference between him and the ones he liberated people from, its just like a mere façade and not reality. As he himself is as vindictive and horrific as them. Only he had more time using harm against people, then they ever could. Peace.

President Yoweri Museveni letter to Speaker Rebecca Kadaga: “Request for Action Against Security Officers who Alleged Participated in Acts of Torture in Arua” (31.08.2018)

Rotten roots: MPs Medical Tourism are needed, because Health Ministers flee to do it too!

We have specialists to handle the cases the Members of Parliament that went abroad. We are not shamed about our hospitals, we have all requirements for specialised treatment of the MPs that left” – Ruth Aceng (04.09.2018).

Today, the Uganda Media Centre, State Minister of Helath Ruth Aceng, Minister for Housing Hon. Chris Baryomunsi and Gen. Elly Tumwiine has done their best to defend the state defense to the media. However, their defense of the state of Health Care needs to be dismissed. The other of the spin of what happened in Arua in August has to stop. As there are no one looking into the death and the tortured individuals, more spinning the blame on the civilians and not on the ones shooting live-bullets.

While that is a case, the Members of Parliament Hon. Francis Zaake and Hon. Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine left the Republic for medical treatment in both United States and India. However, this is not new. Earlier this year Betty Nambooze after the Age Limit ruckus has had medical treatment in India. She is not alone. As I will show.

From the Ministry of Health Alone in 2017:

The State minister for Primary Health Care, Dr Joyce Moriku Kaducu because of food-poisoning last year, couldn’t get treatment in Uganda, so she flown to Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. While Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, the State Minister of Health left Uganda for her knee surgery in India.

Former MPs Died in 2017:

Last year, Annie Logiel MP for Moroto headed to Denmark for treatment for her brain tumor, but did not survive. In the same year, William Bejikukye Zinkuratire, who was poisoned after he was sworn-in as MP, later getting treatment several times in India, but as he got final treatment in Uganda, finally succumbed to the illness. Former MP Issa Kikungwe died last year of a brain-tumor, as medical team at Mulago couldn’t save him.

In 2018:

Earlier this year, former MP Ruth Alinyikira Owagage was to get life needed treatment at the Jinja Hospital. However, the lack of oxygen and treatment let her die at the premises.

So, when I hear Ruth Aceng and others saying the Health Care have the ability to treat Bobi Wine and Zaake. I have my doubts, as the State Minister’s of Health went abroad for their treatments last year. The Presidents daughters have traveled abroad to give birth even. Therefore, when the National Resistance Movement (NRM) says everything is fine and dandy. Why did the State Ministers for Health travel themselves for treatment last year? Shouldn’t they be the firsts to use the services they represents?

This is like the brewer not drinking the own made drink, but instead buys Coca-Cola. Your supposed to be proud of what you produce and sell, not the ones you buy wholesale. That is what the State Minister of Health is doing. They are not proud of their service delivery, when your traveling abroad yourself for medical healthcare. That is what they have done. That is why Aceng isn’t the right voice to defend it. She has traveled herself, if someone should understand Zaake and Bobi Wine, it her. Instead she is all defensive. Peace.

Bobi Wine’s horrific torture in detention post Arua By-Election!

Just as he has been in the United States for a day. The tortured Members of Parliament Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine who is telling his story of what happen to him, as he was arrested in the hotel in Arua on the 14th August 2018 and what happen since. As the Special Force Command (SFC) and the soldiers of the army were torturing the MPs, the leaders and the whole Arua33. All of them, this is just the tale of what happen to Bobi Wine. That is bad enough. No one should gone through this for campaigning for an candidate during a By-Election. This is the wrongs and shows the ills of the state, as they are ordering it and ensuring this happen to the people who challenge the power of the President.

If the President are so afraid, why did the SFC do this to Kyagulanyi: “Another soldier pointed a pistol on my head and ordered me to kneel down. I put my hands up and just before my knees could reach the floor, the soldier who broke into the room used the same iron bar to hit me. He aimed it at my head and I put up my hand in defence so he hit my arm. The second blow came straight to my head on the side of my right eye. He hit me with this iron bar and I fell down” (Robert Kyagulanyi, 03.09.2018).

This is really just demeaning and hurting him, as they made him kneel, then beating on him and used an iron bar. That is really with intent of hurting him. As the bones and flesh are hurt by the force with the usage of iron bar. That you use it towards the face, shows that they wanted to visibly too, as well as not only weakening his body, but his spirit too.

They continued to torture him: “They wrapped me in a thick piece of cloth and bundled me into a vehicle. Those guys did to me unspeakable things in that vehicle! They pulled my manhood and squeezed my testicles while punching me with objects I didn’t see” (Robert Kyagulanyi, 03.09.2018).

They really didn’t spare him any piece of mind, they really wanted to show their power and strength. As they went for his genitals. They are really showing their blatant disregard for Bobi Wine as a person, as they had already beaten all parts of body, but had to go after his manhood. They just wanted to show their attitude and their opportunity to control him. To go after his sensitive and weakest part, show how much they would do to make him suffer.

They even drugged the man, after all the pains they put him through: “Very early morning, I was picked from this room and taken to another very secluded and dirty room where I was put on another bed, hand-cuffed again and injected with a drug that immediately sent me into a deep sleep” (Robert Kyagulanyi, 03.09.2018).

When he is already heavily injured as the tortured man had gone through a process, where the soldiers and SFC had picked where to hit, what to hurt and how to damage him as they saw fit. They continued and even injected him with an unknown substance. This shows to what extent the state will got to, to hurt a civilian and a representative. That the NRM and President Museveni calls himself a freedom-fighter now, is an insult to what freedom is. This is oppression and torturing people, not freedom or liberty.

The world should know that Bobi Wine isn’t the only one who went through painful experience with the SFC, he is just one out of many, but he is the biggest target and the one that NRM cannot handle. That is why they went this far on him. They really wanted to send a message. Don’t mess with Museveni. He is supposed to rule indefinitely, Not being questioned by the “Ghetto President” or even the “People’s President” for that matter. Peace.

Robert Kyagulanyi: Fit to Fly Report from Lubaga Hospital (29.08.2018)

Uganda: Police clears Hon. Zaake on bond free to travel (03.09.2018)

Today, Monday 3 September 2018, Uganda Police Force completed preliminary investigations on Hon. Francis Zaake Mutebi, Member of Parliament, Mityana Municipality.

After fulfilling the requirements, Uganda Police Force has given Hon. Zaake Police bond and he is free to travel.

On Thursday 30 August 2018, Hon. Zaake escaped from Rubaga hospital and Police stopped him from leaving the country at Entebbe International Airport and he was referred to Mulago Hospital (Kiruddu) for medical examination as part of the investigations.

Police has been investigating a number of cases as a result of the Arua Municipality by-election incident.

The offences include treason, assault and malicious damage.

Thirty three suspects have already appeared in court and other suspects are yet to face the law. Among the suspects that are yet to appear include Hon. Francis Zaake Mutebi.

SP Patrick Onyango

Deputy Public Relations Officer

Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine: What Exactly Happened in Arua? My story (03.09.2018)

Fellow Ugandans, friends and well-wishers from around the world,

I am sorry, I have taken a bit long to write to you about the trials and tribulations, for which you all stood with me. It’s been tough days, as I recover from the physical and mental trauma I endured. I am overwhelmed by your support and words of encouragement. I cannot repay you in any other way, except sticking to those values which bind all of us together- justice, equality and human dignity.

I will be communicating more in the coming days and where possible send my appreciation to the different individuals and organizations. In this post however, I want to recount what exactly happened to me. I am very grateful to my wife Barbie, and my lawyers who narrated to the world these events, but I also wanted to tell this sad story PERSONALLY. I felt more compelled to speak out after reading the many posts written by President Museveni and other government officials about what happened.

I read the things they were saying while I was in detention, and found them absurd to say the least. I was shocked on how they tried to downplay the atrocities committed by security agencies on innocent citizens.

So let me set the record straight.

It was 13th August and it was the last day of campaigns in the Arua municipality by-election. As always we had a great campaign day. As I left the rally, I was convinced that our candidate Hon. Kassiano Wadri would win the election. So we moved from the rally at about 5:30pm and the people followed us, singing songs of freedom and chanting “People Power – Our Power.” Together with Hon. Kassiano and a few other leaders, we parted with the multitude, bade them farewell and went into Royal hotel where Hon. Wadri was staying.

We watched the 7:00pm news from the hotel lobby as we took tea and took stock of the day’s events. It was of course very exciting to watch that day’s news. The anchor said we were clearly ahead of the other candidates and the television relayed images of the massive rally and procession we had had on that day. Shortly after, I decided to move to Pacific hotel where I was staying so as to rest after the very busy day. It was at that point that I sat in my tundra vehicle, in the co-driver’s seat. The gentleman who was driving the tundra that day is one of our drivers (not Yasin). He moved out of the vehicle to call other team members who were supposed to drive with us. He took a bit long and I moved into my other vehicle (a land cruiser) which was right next to the tundra and whose driver was already seated on the driver’s seat. We immediately set off for Pacific hotel. I did not even see what happened after or how late Yasin ended up on my seat in the tundra. For clarity, he had been driving another vehicle that day.

I had started taking the stairs to my room when this driver came running to say that Yasin Kawuma had been shot. I could not believe it. I asked him where he was and he told me they were parked outside the hotel. We paced down and I saw with my own eyes, my friend and comrade Yasin, giving way as he bled profusely. I quickly asked a team member to take him to hospital and another to call the police. We had not stepped away from that place when angry looking SFC soldiers came, beating up everyone they could see.

As soon as they saw me, they charged saying “there he is” in Swahili. So many bullets were being fired and everyone scampered to safety. I also ran up into the hotel with a throng of people who had gathered around. Inside the hotel, I entered a random room and locked myself in. It is at that point that my media assistant shared with me Yasin’s picture which I tweeted because the world needed to know what was going on.

I could hear the people outside and in the hotel corridors crying for help. I could also hear the soldiers pulling these helpless people past the room in which I was, saying all sorts of profanities to them while beating them mercilessly.

I stayed in the room for a long time. At some point, I heard soldiers pull some woman out of her room and ask her which room Bobi Wine had entered. The woman wailed saying she didn’t know and what followed were terrible beatings. I could hear her cry and plead for help as she was being dragged down the stairs. Up to now, that is one experience that haunts me; that I could hear a woman cry for help, yet I was so vulnerable and helpless. I could not help her.

I stayed put for some hours, and I could hear the soldiers come every few minutes, bang some doors on my floor or other floors and go away. At different times I would sleep off, but was always rudely awakened by the banging of doors and the impatient boots that paced throughout the hotel for the whole night. In the wee hours of the morning, the soldiers started breaking doors of the different hotel rooms. With rage, they broke doors, and I knew they would soon come to my room. I therefore put my wallet and phone into my socks. I also had with me some money which I had earned from a previous music show. I also put it into the socks.

A few minutes later, a soldier hit my door with an iron bar and after two or three attempts the door fell in. We looked each other in the eye as he summoned his colleagues in Swahili. Another soldier pointed a pistol on my head and ordered me to kneel down. I put my hands up and just before my knees could reach the floor, the soldier who broke into the room used the same iron bar to hit me. He aimed it at my head and I put up my hand in defence so he hit my arm. The second blow came straight to my head on the side of my right eye. He hit me with this iron bar and I fell down. In no minute, all these guys were on me- each one looking for the best place to hurt. I can’t tell how many they were but they were quite a number.

They beat me, punched me, and kicked me with their boots. No part of my body was spared. They hit my eyes, mouth and nose. They hit my elbows and my knees. Those guys are heartless!

As they dragged me out of the room, they continued to hit me from all sides. After some time, I could almost no longer feel the pain. I could only hear what they were doing from a far. My cries and pleas went unheeded. The things they were speaking to me all this while, I cannot reproduce here. Up to now, I cannot understand how these soldiers who I probably had never met before in person could hate me so much.

They wrapped me in a thick piece of cloth and bundled me into a vehicle. Those guys did to me unspeakable things in that vehicle! They pulled my manhood and squeezed my testicles while punching me with objects I didn’t see. They pulled off my shoes and took my wallet, phone and the money I had. As soon as the shoes were off, they started hitting my ankles with pistol butts. I groaned in pain and they ordered me to stop making noise for them. They used something like pliers to pull my ears. Some guy unwrapped me and instead tied the thick cloth around my head. They forced my head below the car seat so as to stop me from shouting. Then they hit my back and continued to hit my genitals with objects. The marks on my back, ankles, elbows, legs and head are still visible. I continued to groan in pain and the last I heard was someone hit me at the back of the head with an object – I think a gun butt or something. That was the last time I knew what was going on.

By the time I became conscious again, I was somewhere in a small room with a small window. My legs were tied together with my hands with very tight cuffs. I was bleeding from the nose and ears. I was in great pain. My whole body was swollen. I was shaking uncontrollably.

Two soldiers came in. I can now recall that they were visibly pleased to see that I was still alive. They came close to me. One of them apologized in tears about what had happened. “Bobi, I am sorry but not all of us are like that. Some of us actually like you,” he said. He said that doctors were on their way to treat me. I stayed in the same position and after a few hours, about four soldiers came in and lifted me on a piece of cloth. One of them took a picture of me, (I hope to see that picture some day in my life). As we went out, I read “Arua airfield’ somewhere. I was taken into a waiting military helicopter and taken to a place which I later found out was Gulu 4th Division military barracks. It was at that facility that some military doctors came in and started giving me injections.

At that point I could not even complain as I was not yet fully alert. I was very dizzy and had not eaten or drank anything for many hours. My sight was very weak as well. I spent the night there. Late in the night, I was picked again from this detention facility. With my head covered with a dark cloth that felt like a t-shirt, I was taken to Gulu Police Station where I was forced to sign a written statement by an officer called Francis Olugo in the presence of some other officer who I later learnt is the CID head of Gulu. I can hardly recall what was contained in that statement! I was then returned to Gulu military barracks, put on a metallic bed and handcuffed on it. Very early morning, I was picked from this room and taken to another very secluded and dirty room where I was put on another bed, hand-cuffed again and injected with a drug that immediately sent me into a deep sleep.

The following day I can recall that at some point, Hon. Medard Ssegona and Hon. Asuman Basalirwa came to me. My efforts to rise and speak to them didn’t yield much. The moment they saw me, they could hardly hold tears. I have a faint recollection of what they told me, but their visit was very short.

I was later carried into a hall where I saw soldiers dressed smartly. I would lie if I said I fully appreciated what was going on at that point. I was later told that I was appearing before the General Court Martial!!!

After a short while, I was again carried into a military helicopter.

When it landed, I was put into a vehicle and driven to another place which I later found out was Makindye military barracks.

At Makindye, I was now fully alert and had a drink for the first time after two or three days. I saw doctors come in several times and they gave me all kinds of injections. At some point, I tried to object and these guys would hold my arms from behind and inject me anywhere. If I asked what drug it was, the guy would say something like, “This is diclofenac, can’t you see?” At some point, some guy came in and wanted to stitch my ear which had an open wound. I pleaded with him not to, and he relented. All the while I was spending the day and night with my hands and legs cuffed until a few days later. Thankfully although the scars are still visible, the wound on my ear healed.

It was after some time at Makindye that I was able to see my wife and my brother Eddy Yawe, who came in with some lawyers, some friends and dignitaries from the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC). I will never forget the atmosphere in that room- people started crying upon setting eyes on me. At that point, I could not sit, walk or even stand by myself. I was still swollen and spoke with great difficulty due to chest pains. My teeth were shaking and the headache was unbearable. I am thankful that the UHRC made a report which I later read. At least it captured in part, the state in which they found me. As the government agency mandated to fight human rights violations, I am eagerly waiting to see what actions they will take to ensure that no Ugandan is taken through this ever again. Not even President Museveni. I cannot wish what happened to me upon anyone. Not even those soldiers who violated me as if they were beasts. I remember two other things about that visit. Despite the pain I had that day, I remember forcing a smile when they told me that I had been charged with unlawful possession of firearms.

I was told that three guns had been assembled and said to have been found in my room! I could not believe that the state would torture a Ugandan so bad and then frame him with possession of guns! I did not stop thinking about that for all the days I spent at Makindye. How ruthless, how callous, how inhumane could these guys be? It was also on that day that I was told about the alleged stoning of the President’s vehicle.

The other thing I remember is this- I asked my visitors if we had won the Arua election. They told me we had won with a big margin and I thanked God. That strengthened my spirit because I knew that the people were with us, even in the kind of sufferings and indignities we were being subjected to.

I was very sad as I am today, that they murdered my brother Yasin in cold blood and did not allow me to bury him. They told me about my other comrades who were also incarcerated and I kept praying for them. (Of course every visitor had to speak to me in the presence of military personnel.) Although I was very pleased to see all visitors, when I was released, I read the comments which some of the visitors made to the press (particularly government officials). I felt sad that we have a lot of dishonest, cold people who don’t care riding on someone’s tragedy for political capital. I want to believe that we are better than that, dear Ugandans.

Anyway, while at Makindye I was briefed that I was expected in court on 23rd August, about nine days after I was taken there. Some military doctors continued to come in to inject me, wash my wounds and give me pain killers. At night on two occasions, I was put into military vehicles and driven to Kampala Imaging Centre for scans. I could not object or even ask questions. I am worried because one of the machines seemed very dangerous. As soon as I was placed into it and it was switched on, the doctors ran to a safe distance and started seeing me from a small window. It was there that the radiologist told me how one of my kidneys and back had been damaged during the assault. I was however not given any written medical report by the military.

It was clear they wanted me to appear in better shape at the next time of my court appearance and they did everything possible to achieve that. A day or two at Makindye, this guy was candid. He told me it was in my interest to eat well, take in all the medicine and look better by 23rd or else they would not allow the press to see me and I would be remanded again until I was presentable enough! They even forcefully shaved my hair and beards. When I hesitated, this soldier told me, ‘gwe osaaga’ (You are kidding). Two of them held my hands from behind and shaved me by force. At some point, they insisted I must wear a suit for my next appearance before the court martial and asked me to tell my wife to bring me one. I also insisted that I did not have it. At another point I hesitated to allow some eye drops for my right eye which was very red and swollen. I always wanted to know what drugs I was being given. These guys held my arms from behind and one of them literally poured the entire bottle into my eye! Later, the military doctor also provided me with a crutch to aid me in walking. At that point, I was able to stand up, although with difficulty. When you hear all this you may think that all our soldiers are brutal. Far from that, most of them are wonderful people. There are many I interacted with during this ordeal who were extremely professional and sympathetic. It was hard to comprehend how people serving the same force, putting on the same uniform could be very different in appreciation and approach to a citizen of Uganda.

When I was taken back to Gulu on 23rd, I was very happy to see the people who came to court including family members, comrades in the struggle and lawyers. I cannot explain how I felt when the lawyer for the army said that charges of unlawful possession of firearms had been dropped. I did not feel vindicated. I was not excited. I was not moved. I just cannot explain how I felt. I just remembered what these people had done to me and tears came to my eyes. Shortly after, I was rearrested right in front of the courtroom and taken to Gulu prison. At the military prison, I was wearing a red uniform – this time, I was given a yellow one.

Friends, you cannot believe that you can be happy to be in prison but that day I was. I was very happy to leave solitary military confinement and meet up with colleagues who were being held at the Gulu prison. That night I was taken to Lachor hospital in Gulu- other tests and scans were conducted. At that point I was feeling better, especially psychologically since I had reunited with my comrades in the struggle.

Later that night the prison authorities decided to take me into the sickbay as opposed to staying with the other comrades. The other comrades led by Hon. Wadri protested. I could hear them bang the doors of their cell. The following day I was allowed to stay with them. The following day I was allowed to stay with them. This is when I interacted with the other 32 colleagues who had been arrested in the Arua fracas. Being in the same prison ward with Hon. Gerald Karuhanga, Hon. Paul Mwiru, Hon. Kassiano Wadri, Hon. Mike Mabike, John Mary Sebuufu and many other comrades made it feel like a boarding school. It was not a very happy reunion though. Because of the torture some of our comrades had been permanently injured. I cannot forget the pain which Shaban Atiku was going through. He spent every day and night groaning. The doctors had told him he would never walk again because his back had been permanently broken. Sadly, the world may never know him, but he will never go out of my mind. He would later collapse during a court session at Gulu. When I later met the women who were brutalised, it was very painful to see them and listen to their stories.

Many times we joked about the possibility of being hanged if the regime decided to give us the maximum penalty of the offence we had been charged with! This got many of our comrades silent.

Away from these sad moments, the overall prison leader had a box guitar in the ward and together we sang songs of freedom all night. This was the routine every night until we appeared before the Gulu High Court a few days later, for our bail hearing.

My next communication will be a vote of thanks to the world for the overwhelming support and comradeship. I will also talk about what I think we must do together to continue this struggle for liberty and freedom.

I am glad that authorities finally have bowed to your pressure and #HonZaake has been given bond to travel for urgent specialised treatment and I join the world to demand authorities to #FreeEddyMutwe and other political prisoners. WE SHALL OVERCOME.

PS:

1. Please ignore calls from my phone number (0752013306). It was taken from me by soldiers and am told they’re using it to call my friends pretending it is me.

2. Please ignore any communication from other social media accounts and pages under my name apart from this one (with a blue tick) and my verified twitter account (also with a blue tick).

Hon. Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine

#PeoplePower_OurPower