National Unity Platform (NUP) President Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine and several others have been arrested by police during a foiled protest in Kampala.
A group of about 10 NUP supporters led by Bobi Wine attempted to stage a protest near Constitutional Square in Kampala demanding for immediate and unconditional release of the NUP supporters in detention of state agencies.
“Bobi Wine arrested as he led MPs and other leaders in a peaceful protest against the abduction, torture and murder of his supporters. The protest was taking place at City Square, Kampala” said a tweet on Bobi Wine’s twitter account posted about an hour ago.
According to the Uganda Police Spokesperson CP Fred Enanga, Bobi Wine was arrested together with NUP spokesperson Joel Senyonyi and 8 others along Kampala Road, near Mapera House.
During a press briefing at Police Headquarters in Nagulu, Enanga said Bobi Wine and the group were arrested for participating in an unlawful procession in the Central Business District. He said the suspects were recording statements after which police will decide the next course of action.
He said the arrests are connected to last week’s announcement by Bobi Wine on nationwide protests to reclaim his “victory.” Since then, 61 suspects have been arrested and charged with inciting violence and holding unlawful assemblies as per the Penal Code Act according to Enanga.
Enanga said whereas the law permits lawful protests, the organizers have always been non-cooperative with police and failed to control crowds, and the assemblies end up turning into various forms of criminality which is unacceptable.
“Previous attempts to hold peaceful assemblies have led to collateral damage in this country which arises out of looting and other disorderly acts which forms the basis of arrests” CP Enanga said. He also said the Ministry of health guidelines still stand despite decreasing numbers of COVID-19 cases.
He said the security posture in Kampala is robust to contain an form of violence that targets destabilizing the norm as the public and business sector struggles to shed off the effects of the political season.
In a related event, police from Kabalagala police station also arrested a group of youths who were holding placards in front of the American Embassy Nsambya demanding for the release of the NUP supporters who were arrested.
The supporters also demanded for the reclamation of Bobi Wine’s victory who they claim won the 2021 presidential elections.