By Kampala Post Reporter
Police have produced evidence to pin Kyadondo East Member of Parliament and Presidential hopeful Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine) on unlawful activities during his foiled consultative meeting on Monday January 6, 2020 in Kasangati.
In an 18-page document the police quotes CCTV footage, where rowdy People Power youth are seen attacking the police personnel, mounting illegal road blocks and pulling innocent civilians from boda boda motorcycles.
The rowdy supporters are also seen stoning vehicles, with intent to harm passengers. Some are also seen throwing teargas canisters to the police personnel on duty. The group was in the other footage captured meeting Bobi Wine’s bodyguard, Edward Ssebufu, alias Eddy Mutwe.
Despite the high provocation and the misbehavior by MP Kyagulanyi’s supporters, opposition groups have since blamed the police for being iron handed in dealing with civilians. The CCTV footage also shows some press vans vacating the area without capturing the People Power rowdy groups wreaking havoc.
The Police have often times blamed journalists for being biased in covering such opposition activities. In a statement released shortly after the Monday chaos, the police hailed officers on ground for acting professionally and exercising restraint despite high provocation.
According to the Electoral Commission letter to MP Kyagulanyi, regarding his countrywide consultation, the Electoral body notified him of the guidelines he was to follow.
“However, we wish to point out that consultations ought to be distinguished from campaigns which take the form of distributing materials, holding rallies and meetings and canvassing/soliciting for votes envisaged under section 21 and 24 of the Presidential Elections Act, 2005,” Electoral Commission Chairman Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi stated in a December 9, 2019 letter to MP Kyagulanyi.
He added: “Ordinarily consultation means an exchange of views in an attempt to reach a decision. Accordingly the identified venue, mode and manner of the consultative meeting ought to facilitate the exchange of views between the aspirant and those being consulted.”
The police dispersed Bobi Wine's first consultative meeting in Kasangati accusing him and his supporters of breaching provisions in the Public Order Management Act. The MP and his two colleagues; Asuman Basalirwa for Bugiri Municipality and Latiff Ssebagala for Kawempe North, together with a host of supporters were arrested.
A total of 45 suspects were arrested during the chaos, they were later screened and majority of them, including the Members of Parliament have since been released on police bond,pending charges ranging from obstruction to disobedience of lawful orders under the Public Order Management Act.
