‘We are peaceful,’ Bobi Wine tells security forces

Bobi Wine Nomination
Bobi Wine and other opposition leaders in Uganda have been frequently arrested in recent years

Kampala, Uganda | URN | The National Unity Platform [NUP] presidential candidate, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine, says despite the continuous provocation by President Museveni’s government, he and his supporters will remain peaceful as they move towards attaining political power through the will of the people.

Bobi Wine who is seen as the main contender to President Yoweri Museveni made the remarks shortly after being released by security which held him in a police van outside his residence for several hours after his nomination for the 2021 general elections.

The security officers detained the Kyadondo East Member of Parliament [Bobi Wine] following his botched attempt to lead a procession of his supporters to the NUP offices in Kamwokya where he was expected to unveil his manifesto detailing NUP’s agenda.

According to Bobi Wine, NUP and people power movement supporters are law-abiding citizens and will act within the law.

Wine wondered why the Electoral Commission [EC] failed to guide security agencies on how to handle duly nominated presidential candidates, which saw his arrest a short distance from the nomination center.

He said the conduct of the security forces shows that the road to the polling day won’t be easy.

Asuman Basalirwa, the JEEMA party president and one of Bobi Wine’s legal counsel says the ruling government is trying to narrow the political space by suppressing key opponents from implementing their campaign plans.

He argued that the manifesto which they had wanted to launch is critical for the upcoming election and is the social contract between their candidate and the electorate whose mandate they are seeking.

Electoral Commission has distanced itself from the fracas following Bobi Wine’s nomination. Paul Bukenya, the acting EC spokesperson says they are not familiar with what transpired since they were still conducting nominations.

In a press statement issued on Tuesday 3rd, police accused Bobi Wine of scheming to hold illegal processions from Kyambogo to the NUP headquarters.

VIDEO: Bobi Wine’s Full Speech After Nomination to Contest for 2021 Presidency

Bobi Wine’s full address to his supporters after release by police

“…we countered due to its negative impact on the flow of traffic, public safety, and public order. He was forcefully removed from his vehicle and a fracas ensued in the process of transferring him to the police vehicle. He was eventually safely delivered to his home in Magere,” the police statement reads in part.

The statement notes that whereas all voters have their democratic right to support a candidate of their choice, they should avoid violent confrontations that could spiral out of control between supporters of rival political factions as well as with law enforcement agencies.

Bobi Wine has however rejected the police claims saying they should have come up with better ways to handle him if they thought the movement to his office would cause public disorder.