The military and police have deployed in Kampala’s central business district to quash any demos against the arrest of Kyandondo East Member of Parliament Robert Kyagulanyi a.k.a Bobi Wine who is detained at the Makindye Military Barracks with bruises on some parts of his body.
Some of the policemen are camped at the Constitutional Square or City Square which is on Jinja Road and neighbouring the High Court.
Bobi Wine and others were arrested on Monday night in Arua as he campaigned for the winner of the recently Arua Municipality Member of Parliament Kassiano Wadri (now in prison). He is being accused of illegal possession of firearms, a charge he has denied.
The brutal arrest of Bobi Wine and other MPs including Francis Zaake now fighting for his life at Rubaga Hospital has been condemned by the international community such as the United States Embassy and the European Union as well as human rights activists, artists, religious leaders, traditional leaders and Musicians.
The protests against the arrested legislators and civilians by the security forces have spread to foreign lands such as in Canada where the demonstrators are calling for the freeing of Bobi Wine from the Makindye Military Barracks.
Meanwhile former President Museveni’s senior advisor on media John Nagenda says “it might have been the President’s warmth to ordinary people which could have played part in in the breakdown of order” in Arua as supporters of rival candidates clashed on Monday evening. “He has always wanted to walk freely among them,” he wrote on Saturday, adding that the opposing sides should have been strictly kept apart.
Nagenda in his Saturday column doubted whether MP-elect Wadri participated in the pelting of one of Museveni’s vehicles in convoy that Monday evening as supporters of rival candidates left campaign grounds to their homes.
“He is very good company, a friendly soul. But I would be lying if I said he didn’t have a quick temper! But throw stones at the President? Rubbish!” Nagenda wrote, concluding that as soon Wadri is freed, he will take his seat in Parliament.
Wadri and several others were charged with treason.