Bobi Wine is now under House Arrest!

Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine after the violent arrest yesterday, as his Easter Monday Concert was blocked by the authorities, today, the Police Force and the authorities itself have sealed of his home in Magere. His wife Barbie and the kids was stopped at the roadblock nearly not allowed to go out of the home to school.

Clearly, the message of protest against the impunity and lack of freedom is issuing fear within the National Resistance Movement. As they have to go to extreme measures and house arrest Bobi Wine. Without a court order or without any proof of crimes. They are doing a pre-emptive measure, which means they will say his “inciting violence” or destroying “public order” without any proof of it. That is just how they operate.

Bobi Wine isn’t the first nor the last person to get this treatment, as more opposition figures and dissidents will get this treatment from the Police Force. This is the way they are, as the orders from High Above, states this.

Bobi Wine’s own Statement on today:

“Police and the military have been deployed at my residence since yesterday, after the violent arrest. My home is under siege. They have surrounded my fence and installed barricades on all roads leading to my home. It is today when I attempted to move out of my home that the police told me that I am under house arrest. I was headed to Police headquarters in Naguru to deliver a notification about our planned peaceful demonstrations against police brutality, injustice and misuse of authority. When they blocked me, I asked my lawyers to deliver the letter, but they too have been blocked and stopped from accessing the police headquarters. A public office! They were ordered to leave the gate to the police headquarters immediately or face arrest! Since they have refused to receive our notification as commanded by the law, WE SHALL GO AHEAD AND DEMONSTRATE PEACEFULLY AS GUARANTEED BY THE CONSTITUTION. This is our country!” (Bobi Wine, 23.04.2019).

When a Member of Parliament is under house arrest for doing his civic duty. You know something is wrong with the justice system and with the state of affairs. When a MP and a citizen can loose all his rights. He is just one out of plenty, who if they use their voices, it will be shut-down. Just like in the past, it will happen in the present time too.

Bobi Wine is getting the Besigye treatment, the House Arrest without a Court Order or a Warrant. Just a mere reflection if the injustice happening in the Republic. Peace.

Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine: Press Statement (22.04.2019)

Greetings, countrymen and countrywomen.

Yesterday, the 21st day of April, 2019 the Uganda Police Force once again blocked our music concert which had been scheduled to take place today at One Love Beach Busabala. Their letter also indicated that all our other planned shows across the country stand cancelled. For clarity, we have been planning to hold mega music concerts in the districts of Lira, Gulu and Kitgum and police had been duly notified. This brings the total number of our shows which have been blocked by the Police to 124!

Every citizen of Uganda knows what this is about. President Museveni is simply not happy with what I sing. He would simply want me to sing praises for him, and since I have refused, he won’t let me perform anywhere in Uganda. Being the coward he is, his government has even proposed ridiculous regulations that would ensure that I don’t perform outside Uganda without clearance from the government. He simply can’t stand our message being aired out anywhere.

Let me remind the nation that we have so far taken the following steps from the time these violations started in October, 2017. We filed a case in the High Court in 2017. To date, judgement has not been delivered. We petitioned the Uganda Human Rights Commission. We are yet to get a hearing. We petitioned the Parliament. Parliament passed a resolution against the blocking of our concerts and ordered the police and other security agencies to stop this unconstitutional conduct. They totally ignored Parliament’s resolution. We held meetings with the police leadership asking them what law we had violated. All they said was that they were acting on orders from above!

Let me also remind us all that it is not only our music shows that have been illegally blocked- I have on several occasions been barred from moving freely in this country. Several events that planned to host me have been cancelled, including a graduation event in Kasese. A few months ago, police attempted to block me from attending my sister’s wedding in Gomba district- I only eluded them and got to the event. In the recent past, police teargassed a church congregation that I attended in Kayunga. I have been put under 24 hour surveillance as if I am a criminal. People Power activities across the country have been blocked with impunity. Several of our songs have been banned on radio and television Stations. All these illegalities have been orchestrated by a few people in the police leadership, acting on the orders of President Museveni.

While these illegalities have been meted out on me, my family and the People Power movement, our other comrades in the struggle have not been spared. The police has violated clear constitutional provisions and blocked FDC activities across the country. Radio stations have been switched off for hosting comrade Dr. Kizza Besigye. Several events organised by the Democratic Party have been blocked without explanation. Colleague Members of Parliament have been arrested for protesting against evictions of our people in Apaa. Traders in Kampala have been brutalized for trying to peacefully protest against several injustices. Comrades such as Hon. Francis Zaake have in the recent past been violently arrested by the police. Other comrades such as Dr. Stella Nyanzi are being illegally detained. Many political activists are being illegally detained in ‘safe houses’ and being subjected to all manner of torture. Even our Muslim brothers and sisters have been blocked from holding public prayers in protest against the injustices on the muslim community. Journalists have been brutalized by the police and the military for doing their work.

The citizens have been watching all these injustices, and have been asking us- WHAT NEXT?

As I have labored to explain, we have made resort to all lawful avenues to have these illegalities struck down without success.

We have now decided to resort to another lawful avenue to protest against injustice by the leadership of the Uganda Police Force. We are invoking Article 29(1)(d) of the Constitution of Uganda which guarantees every citizen the right to assemble and demonstrate peacefully unarmed, and to petition. We shall hold peaceful demonstrations against the brutality, injustice and misuse of authority by the leadership of the police.

We call upon all those who have been victims of police brutality, injustice and misuse of authority, as well as other well meaning Ugandans to demonstrate peacefully against these illegalities.
We have written to the Police informing them of our intention to protest against the Police, as required by law. On Tuesday, 23rd April, 2019 I will use public transport and if necessary walk to the Police Headquarters in Naguru to deliver the letter notifying them of our intentions. All other Ugandans who wish to protest are also encouraged to write to the police and walk or drive there to deliver the letters of notification. We cannot continue to live as slaves in our own country!
#EnoughIsEnough
#EkimalaKimala
#Tumechoka

Your brother and comrade,

Hon. Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert- Bobi Wine

Bobi Wine arrested on the way to hold a Presser at One Love Beach, Busabala!

As we knew yesterday, that the concert scheduled today on the One Love Beach at Busabala, or the Kyarenga Extra Concert was blocked. Early this morning the Police Force had put up road-blocks and massive amount of police officers at the venue. They didn’t have the manpower for the concert to be held, but enough to close-off the venue. Shows the priority of the state.

In that manner, as they have blocked the up-coming Kyarenga Concerts as well, as the one tonight. The man behind it, Roberty Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, the MP and singer was trying to access his property and hold a press conference there. However, the authorities are in acceptance mode.

The road-block was put in place as the convoy of Bobi Wine was passing to his property. However, the Police Force broke a window on his car, forcefully arrested him and even threw tear-gas at him. The Police did the same at the public and the crowds around the car. They used water-canons on the public, as well as tear-gas, also using live-bullets.

Bobi Wine wasn’t the only arrested today, also his promoters Andrew Mukasa and Abbey Musinguzi were taken in custody. At this point of time, we don’t know where they are detained. The same can be said about Francis Zaake MP. Whose also was arrested as he was supposed to go there too. Nubian Li is the only one who walked away without being arrested.

We know after all the fuzz, the Police have driven Bobi Wine directly to his home in Magere. So, that he cannot address the public or be at his other property. Because, that is decided from high above.

Surely, this was well planned manoeuvrer to stop it from ever happening. As they were there from early on today and had all equipment, manpower and the means to stop it. They knew that Bobi Wine and friends could try to access his own land. Still, they wouldn’t let him. Even as they had already blocked the event from happening through letters.

Therefore, the actions was in ordinary fashion of the Police Force. With violence and arrests. This is just what they do. Pre-emptive strikes and attacks on the public. That is just what they do. The Police Force use all means to silence the opposition. They have done it again and surely can report giddy to Okello House. That they have saluted Bosco with a mission accomplished. Peace.

Uganda Police Force: Statement on Kyarenga Extra Concert (21.04.2019)

Bobi Wine’s Kyarenga Extra Easter Monday Concert: Blocked!

Bobi Wine is an artiste. This [politics] isn’t singing. If you are an artiste, go to Suzanna and Nakulabye” – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on the 15th March 2019

Again and again, the ones who oppose the Presidency and his reign are blocked from their functions. After the Athens Promotions have been informed by the authorities on the 19th April 2019, two days ahead of the scheduled Kyarenga Extra Concert on the 22nd April at One Love Beach, Busalaba. If you ever thought the authorities would relent and make it possible for Bobi Wine aka Robert Kyagulanyi to keep his career. Your wrong. This is continuing to stop him performing. So, in the end, he just have to become a full-time politician and fight with legislation.

This has been a persisting problem, which have occurred again and again. This is what the Police Force does, as they have rules and regulations that is used to stop the Opposition from gathering. While the President can stop at a round-about without any pre-warning and make a rally. While his opposition will be forced with tear-gas and arrests. If not, they are not allowed to entertain the idea of meeting up. That is why they are blocking the Kyarenga Extra at his own property. An property, they have previously allowed it and there was no insecurity or violence there.

It doesn’t matter how much the Athens Promotions, the Firebase Entertainment and the rest of the team around Bobi Wine are applying. They will fall short, because they are on the wrong side of the aisle.

This is the misuse of the Public Order Management Act (POMA) as they can portray it whichever way they want. But the reality is that they are stifling the opposition and their possible ways of earning a living. For a President just last month, saying that Bobi Wine should stick to singing. Kinda hard to that, if your concerts are most likely blocked or suspended? If they are not allowed to happen or the authorities blocking the venues?

Therefore, the President should be warned that the political musician, might turn into a full-time politician and become even more savvy in that field. As your blocking his revenue stream. He will hit harder at you, the cattle-rancher turned self-styled life-President. Maybe, he should go there and hang-out with his favourite cows? Instead of silencing the Republic where his been reigning over for 33 years?

Well, this is just one of plenty of problems in the Republic. Just the proof of how vindictive and aggressive the Police Force and authorities are against their dissidents. That they are not even accepting a concert on your own land. This is the sort of thing that the National Resistance Movement (NRM) have normalized. They are continuing to do it and surely thinks its cool. While the reality will sooner or later hit them. When they have blocked enough political gatherings, enough political actors and also their inner-party work. When the people think its enough…

When that time comes, I don’t know, but this sort of actions. Will cause an effect, as people can react to the continues attack on their freedom and liberty to even participate or have leaders who can be leaders for them. They are awaiting the blessing of the Republic to build their political parties and engage the public. Because, if they start to hold rallies, radio-interviews, concerts, inner-party meetings or even party conferences. They can all be shut-down, either will on-air or before it even happening. This is just what the Police Force is up-to.

Therefore, Bobi Wine isn’t an exemption, but yet another Prime-Example of how the NRM and their Police Force is operating. Peace.

Letter from the Police:

The Sound of Silence: The continued disruption of Besigye On-Air!

Why does it have to be like this? Where is the justification to always target the radio broadcasts where the former Presidential Candidate and leader within the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Dr. Kizza Besigye attend.

It doesn’t matter in which town, city or parts of Uganda, where the FDC leader is speaking on-air. No matter where, as they have to inform and give indication of their arrival as per request of the Public Order Management Act, the Police Force and the other authorities knows of the movement of the FDC Leader. Therefore, when he goes to Mbale, Jinja or Kabale. The authorities are ready to arrest and take away the signal of the set-radio station.

That is just what happens again and again. It is reoccurring like a smear campaign against the man. Not only assaulting his rights as a human being and political figure, but also the rights of the radio stations to pick who they are broadcasting and interviewing. Because, if it was any of the entitled gentlemen in the National Resistance Movement (NRM) or associates of the President. They would never have arrested them on-air or sealed of the stations because of their presence.

The authorities and the regime cannot be proud of these acts, as they are just devious. They are not clever. It is more of the same and showing the mediocre signs of oppression. The sort of behaviour, which is not democratic. As the democracy is only skin deep, because every decision and every move have to be sanctioned from the Okello House or the State House. Therefore, expect Besigye and the fellow FDC leadership to be under more pressure. Since, the election of 2021 is already gearing up for. Even as we are only in the middle of 2019. Still, the pretext for that is evident. As the NRM has picked their sole candidate and the DP Block is established.

We just have to wait and see where the final destination leads us. What we do know is that the authorities and the state apparatus will continue to assault the opposition. They will persist with this behaviour and do it relentlessly like it is no tomorrow. This is deliberate acts of a coward government, who knows their lack of popularity and has to rule by fear. If they were so great and grandeur. They wouldn’t need to fear the speeches or interviews of Besigye. However, they are and does it, again and again. Peace.

An FDC Leadership Conference in Jinja: Ends with the Calvary causing havoc!

This is not surprising. This is steady business for the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) as they where scheduled to meet the FDC leaders of Busoga region in Jinja. To hold a FDC Leadership Conference there, as a part of the ACTION2019 campaign. We know that the Police Force is attacking this party directly, as they have done over years.

Today, the Police Force arrested Dr. Kizza Besigye as he was trying to address the public on-air on the Radio Kira. Where they took him out and also switched off the signal of the radio station. This is what the authorities does to the FDC.

Today was filled with running battles between them, while the Police Force used weapons and tear-gas. The public stood behind the FDC. In a manner, that people could admire. As the Police tried to take the car of Besigye and tow it away. However, the supporters actually took it away from the Police.

What the Police succeeding in doing in Jinja, other than hurting innocent civilians, stopping ordinary business order of the town and ensuring the continued hardships of the FDC. They initially stopped Besigye and blocking many of the FDC central leadership from meeting the leaders of Busoga as scheduled today. And hold the FDC Conference as planned ahead of time.

However, to do internal party conference in Uganda shouldn’t be this hard. The FDC cannot even do internal party work without meeting the Police Force or getting arrested.

This shows the intent of the authorities and how they behave. Even the President can start a rally without any forewarning in a round-about in Kampala, while the opposition parties have to beg to meet or even greet the public on local radios. That is evident yet again.

The is democracy, the NRM Way. Peace.

Uganda Wildlife Authority letter to All Residents of Adjumani District – “Re: Shifting of Apaa Market to Zoka Centre” (10.04.2019)

Opinion: Is the FDC breaching the article 71& 72 in the Constitution by its mere existence?

Justice looks for no prize and no price; it is sought for itself, and is at once the cause and meaning of all the virtues. . . . The worst kind of injustice is to look for profit from injustice.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero

Pardon me, but I got to ask a foolish question. Just to prove a point. It is tiring to know, that every single time the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) is trying to convene their party, hold rallies or even meet up. The Police Force is on their tail. The Calvary is hidden behind the bushes, ambushes them with tear-gas, arresting key people and as scheduled programming. Arresting FDC Party President Patrick Oboi Amuriat. As well, as silencing the meetings between the Central Leadership of the Party and Local Leadership.

The Democratic Principle from the 1995 Constitution:

II. Democratic principles.

(i) The State shall be based on democratic principles which empower and encourage the active participation of all citizens at all levels in their own governance”

This is so common, that I got to ask, because the Republic, still has laws. More laws, than just the Public Order Management Act, even if that is more used or accessible, than the Penal Codes. Alas, the Political Parties Act of 2005 article 10 states:

(1) A political party or organisation shall, in its internal organisation, comply with the provisions of the Constitution, in particular articles 71 and 72 of the Constitution”.

So, as the law states that, the key paragraphs of the Constitution is as follows:

71. Multiparty political system.

A political party in the multiparty political system shall conform to the following principles—

(a) every political party shall have a national character;

(b) membership of a political party shall not be based on sex, ethnicity, religion or other sectional division;

(c) the internal organisation of a political party shall conform to the democratic principles enshrined in this Constitution;

(d) members of the national organs of a political party shall be regularly elected from citizens of Uganda in conformity with the provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this article and with due consideration for gender;

(e) political parties shall be required by law to account for the sources and use of their funds and assets;

(f) no person shall be compelled to join a particular party by virtue of belonging to an organisation or interest group.

72. Right to form political organisations.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the right to form political parties and any other political organisations is guaranteed.

(2) An organisation shall not operate as a political party or organisation unless it conforms to the principles laid down in this Constitution and it is registered.

(3) Parliament shall by law regulate the financing and functioning of political organisations”

Why do I mention all, this, well, the FDC cannot convene or meet. They cannot even hold a meaningful meeting in nearly any parts of the Republic without any interference or legal blockade from the state. Today, was just another day of that in Tororo. This is getting old, as these laws I am reciting is the basics. It is the mere justification of this Republic. The Constitution of 1995 and its words of wisdom. It isn’t me as foreigner explaining common sense. This is the laws of the land.

If rule of law mattered to the National Resistance Movement, if the laws had any values, the FDC would have been allowed to meet, greet and strategies. However, that is merely impossible. As every step of the way, the Police is following, the ISO and Flying Squad is on tight leach. Awaiting orders to block, depose and destroy the venue. That is just what they do. All over the Republic.

The NRM wouldn’t do this, if this was a friendly and a party they didn’t see as a threat. Because the NRM and the Police Force, apparently fears the FDC. That is why they have no issues stopping the internal works of the FDC. They are really just disembarking from the Constitution and making their own justifications with the use of the Penal Code and the POMA. At all means, to silence and oppress dissidents.

The Constitution of 1995 with the articles 71 & 72 is fine on paper, the Political Parties Act 2005 article 10 is perfection too, but what has the power to superseded these ones is the POMA. It is evident, again and again.

That is why the FDC must have violated the 71 & 72, because if they haven’t, why is it so darn hard for them to do internal party politics without the coppers knocking on their door?

Peace.

Uganda-Rwandan Tensions Part IV: A blame game whose behind the kidnapping at the Queen Elizabeth National Park!

On the 3rd April 2019 there was two Americans kidnapped at the Queen Elizabeth National Park. There been speculations about whose behind it and who claimed the ransom for the disappearance of them. The information is still not clear, as both the Security Agencies are keeping information close to their chest. But also, the willingness of adversaries to spell the beans of ill-will of the other party.

As the Uganda-Rwandan tensions continues. That is why I will show supposed intelligence from both Virunga Post and Command1Post, which both are based respectfully in Rwandan and Ugandan hemisphere. They are clear indication of what the different parties believes, plus Daily Monitor explanation of what happened, but we don’t have the whole story.

Here is what we have for now.

How it Happened: “On Tuesday, at around 5.30pm, Mr Natukunda says he received phone calls from people in the national park informing him that tourists had been abducted. On further inquiry, Mr Natukunda says he was told that about four people in a vehicle had gone on a game drive around Edward Flats (flat area close to Lake Edward) not far from to the Uganda-DR Congo border had been abducted. “I was told by camp (lodge) operators that this was a family of two elderly parents and their daughter; that they had gone to the park without informing the administration of the camp and had no armed escorts,” Mr Natukunda said. He says the normal practice is that tourists go on game drives with armed rangers and guides. “That (driving unaccompanied) was a mistake because going on game drive without security is not the usual practice,” Mr Natukunda stresses. The kidnappers took with them Ms Kimberly and their guide, but left behind her parents, Mr Julius Martin and his wife Barbel. Mr Natukunda speculates that the kidnappers might have decided they did not want to move long distances in the jungles with elderly people, who have limited physical energy, but that their decision could have been informed by a desire to leave the parents behind so that they mobilise the ransom money” (Tumushabe & Kinene, 2019)

Ugandan Unverified information:

The Rwandans are said to have been travelling in three mini-buses registration numbers UBD 338V, UBA 841D, and UBE 325P. Some did not have clear travel documents, raising suspicion. The regional police commander Rwenzori East Vincent Mwesigye refused to disclose the identities of detained. Mwesigye said their arrest was now a bigger issue that could be handled at senior level. “There is no comment I can give you at the moment,” Mwesigye said. Journalists could hardly be allowed to enter the police station to interview some of the suspects” (Command1Post, 2019)

Rwandan Unverified information:

Sources who intimated to us revealed a deliberate plan by CMI, which has specifically been cited in facilitating Rwandans to join a rebel outfit in the Democratic Republic of Congo, to train as they continue to prepare to attack and destabilize Rwanda. The recruits are channeled through Uganda with facilitation of CMI to join training bases in DRC, as established by a UN Mapping Report in December last year. “In trying to analyze this scenario, one should not look further than the Kikagati incident where in 2017, a similar number was arrested on the Tanzanian border with Uganda headed for the same training camps,” a source said on condition of anonymity” (…) “Our source further said that by trying to gag the local police that arrested the group, and blocking the media from seeing the suspects, they are deliberately avoiding the Kikagati debacle that was a smack in the face of CMI. Because of the attention the group got, the authorities in Uganda were forced to process them through courts but the case was later bungled and the suspects reportedly released. “The less the world knows about the group, the better for them,” said the source” (Muhumuza, 2019).

We can see that there is conflicting stories, but one thing that combines the two spheres of information. That the Rwandan are claiming to keep it low-key for the sake of the world, while the Ugandan doesn’t want to disclose to much. Which is a nice combo.

However, in this sense, the Security Agencies says this is to be dealt with at the Senior Level, while they are trying to cover-up the connections to groups silently supported by the Ugandan government to destabilize Rwanda. Alas, we don’t know this, because this information is not put into the public.

The states are clearly using their platforms to strike against each other. In this instance, we cannot know what is true or not. Because, the stories aren’t adding up. While the US Tourists is caught in the cross-fire.

Time will tell, what is the real deal, but we are seeing the parties are playing shadow-games with each other. Who knows what is truth at this point, because they are both playing with fire. Peace.

Reference:

Command1Post – ‘Fingers Point At Kigali on American Tourist Kidnap As 40 Rwandans Are Nabbed in National Park’ 05.04.2019, link: https://command1post.com/index.php/2019/04/05/fingers-point-at-kigali-on-american-tourist-kidnap-as-40-rwandans-are-nabbed-in-national-park/

Muhumuza, Alex – ‘Could the Queen Elizabeth National Park tourist kidnap be an inside job by UPDF?’ 06.04.2019, link: https://virungapost.com/could-the-queen-elizabeth-national-park-tourist-kidnap-be-an-inside-job-by-updf/

Tumushabe, Alfred & Kinene, Edson – ‘The slow, tense hunt for kidnapped tourist, guide’ 07.04.2019, Link: https://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/The-slow-tense-hunt-kidnapped-tourist-guide/688334-5060092-qfpkvs/index.html