Ugandan MP and singer Bobi Wine now charged with treason

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By

Gloria Nakiyimba

MP and singer Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine appeared for the very first time in public when he was arraigned before the military court martial on Thursday which dropped charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition he was facing.

This time media were allowed into the court martial unlike the first time he appeared on camera.

The chairman of the court martial, General Andrew Gutti, told court that they were dropping charges against the legislator, freeing him. According to Gen. Gutti proceedings before the court were terminated because it would be double jeopardy to continue with the same charges he was facing in another court.

“This court hereby terminates the proceedings against Honorable Robert Kyagulanyi, before this court. You are accordingly set free unless being held on other charges,“ Gen. Gutti ruled.

He further ruled that it was fair and equitable that the accused person be tried in civil court where he is to be charged with other suspects who were not before the military court.

“Continuing to try the accused person on the same facts of another case in a civil court will cause injustice to the accused,“ Gutti told court.

That freedom was temporary however after police told his lawyer Medard Lubega Ssegona that his client was under arrest.

The MP cried when the court ruled that it had withdrawn charges against him. He appeared too frail and was in pain. He could neither stand nor walk on his own. He was walking with a cane and helped out of the military court by family members including his wife Barbie Itungo Kyagulanyi and fellow MPs.

He was then driven to Gulu magistrate court where he was formally charged with treason. He joins Arua MP elect Kassiano Wadri, Gerald Karuhanga, Paul Mwiru, and Mike Mabike among others who are facing the same treason charges. He was not allowed to enter a plea since his case is capital in nature.

The Prosecution alleges that on the 13th of August, the legislator and others threw stones at the presidential motorcade smashing the windscreen of one of the presidential cars.

His lawyer prayed to court that his client should be allowed to access his doctor at a private health facility to undergo treatment for the injuries he sustained during his arrest which the court allowed.

Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine, was further remanded to Gulu prison until the 30th of August.

Gloria Nakiyimba

Gloria has experience spanning more than five years in Journalism, particularly in field reporting, editing, newscasting and management. She is currently working with Capital Radio Limited [91.3 Capital FM and 96.3 Beat FM] as Head of News, a position she has held since 2010.

Gloria previously worked as the Kampala Correspondent for Radio France International [RFI] generating local story leads with international inference for RFI’s global audience. She also served as Political Editor for The Weekly Mail Newspaper as well as Online Content Editor for the California based Ugandan broadcaster KubutakaRadio.com.