There is no rule of law in Uganda.
Bobi Wine, Ugandan politician
Uganda’s musician turned politician, Bobi Wine, has expressed his displeasure over the continued detention of Nigerian artistes, Omah Lay, Tems and her manager over their appearance in an unapproved concert which violated the COVID-19 protocols of the country.
Bobi Wine who is Uganda’s presidential candidate in the forthcoming elections noted that the Nigerian artistes’ arrest was not about COVID-19 but about the actions of a corrupt regime in the country that operates on a double standards.
The 38-year-old pop star and politician, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, was arrested recently while campaigning in eastern Uganda for the January 14 general elections and is set to appear back in court on December 18, according to the Daily Monitor.
Speaking about the actions of the Ugandan government over charging the Nigerian artistes to court on his Facebook and Twitter platforms, Bobi Wine said that Uganda has no rule of law and the country runs on orders from a small circle of oppressors who dispense orders that are implemented without question.
Bobi Wine was earlier charged also for holding mass rallies that violated the ban on gatherings imposed by the government to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease in the country.
His arrest which sparked protests from his supporters according to local media reports left over 37 people dead before his eventual released on bail.
Meanwhile, latest updates as posted on the Twitter platform of a leading Uganda musician shows that the Nigerian artistes – Omah Lay & Tems have been released from police custody.
Bebe Cool, a Ugandan artiste have been greatly criticised on social media for being part of the Uganda musicians that reported and pushed for the arrest of the Nigerian artistes out of hatred.
According to local media reports in Uganda, Bebe Cool while working closely with the Uganda police authority and the Judiciary secured the release of the Nigerian singers from the Kitalya prison in Uganda.
Bobi Wine: An opposing force to the Museveni-led government
Uganda’s presidential candidate, Bobi Wine, 38, have been considered as a serious threat to veteran President Yoweri Museveni, 76, who aims to extend his rule to at least 40 years.
Despite multiple arrests, several prosecutions from the government and some of his supporters killed in the country, Bobi Wine who has been recognised as the new face of Uganda’s opposition has garnered and attracted a very large followership particularly among the young people in Uganda through his unfazed and brave criticism of the government using advocacy often in his song’s lyrics.
His latest arrest was for holding a campaign rally in Luonga district just over a hundred kilometres from the Kampala capital. The rally attracted thousands of supporters many more than the 200 limit permitted by the Covid-19 restrictions put in place by Uganda’s health ministry and Electoral Commission.
Speaking in a television interview, Wine had earlier discussed his plans to oust President Yoweri Museveni who have been in power for more than 30 years while noting that if President Museveni rigs the election, the people of Uganda will rise up.
“I will try to be diplomatic and say some things are wrong in Uganda but if I am to be real, I will say that everything is wrong in Uganda”. Wine said in an interview.
Wine said he discovered his music had great influence on a lot of young people and that inspired him to change direction by using that influence to advocate for real matters that translates to change in his society.
“I have never realistically experienced a Uganda with another president. And it is more than 80 percent of Ugandans that are in the same situation and that really gets us disturbed. We have been denied an opportunity to contribute to our country. We have been excluded as a new generation. And we desire to contribute to building our country, which we know we are going to live in.” Bobi wine said in a television interview with International media platform, Al Jazeera.
With the opposition figure being severely tortured by security agents, the musician turned politician has been said not to be holding back with his ambitions.
Uganda, a nation of 42 million people, is due to hold presidential and parliamentary elections on January 14.
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