The Kyadondo East Legislator, Robert Kyagulanyi, popular name Bobi Wine said that police have refused to green light his music concert meant for this year’s Easter holiday.
Kyagulanyi in a media briefing that happened on Tuesday 16th 2019, said that police are once again intending to stop and disorganise his concerts without giving him reasons for their actions.
According to Bobi Wine he informed police earlier about his arranged Easter Sunday concert at one love beach Busabala, but until today police hasn’t responded to his letter.
“We are here to communicate to the country and the world at large that yet again in this Easter season the government of Uganda through police has continued to restrict our performances, it has continued to infringe on our rights.
We wrote to police over a month ago informing them that we are going to have concerts. We wrote to them about our concert at Busabala which has been happening for the last 10 years.”
Bobi Wine adds that on top of the one love beach Busabala concert, he has other arranged concerts at Gulu, Arua and Lira which he notified police of, seeking security which they haven’t responded to.
“The Uganda police has not responded to us.”
Away from Bobi Wine’s statements, Andrew Mukasa of Bajjo events, an event promoter and organiser, who was present at the news conference, said that Bobi Wine is not different from other Singers, he has the right to hold stage performances and no one has the right to infringe his right to sing.
“This is not about Bobi Wine. He has a right to be sponsored like any other artiste. He has not violated any law.
Another event promoter and organiser, Abbey Musinguzi, best known as Abitex, relatedly, wondered why police have to always block Bobi Wine’s arranged music crusades.
“Last year, they told us that promoters did not fulfil the requisite procedures. Today if you hear about Abitex or Bajjo Events, you know these are accomplished event’s organisers who are professionals and are aware of the laws.”
Meanwhile, police spokesperson, Fred Enanga in response to Wine’s concerns and fears, said that he should not be worried because there’s still time and police will certainly respond to him before his music show date arrives.
Towards the end of 2018, police forced Bobi Wine to change venue of his ‘kyarenga’ concert from Namboole stadium to his own One Love Beach Busabala. After being subjected to unending procedures by the Namboole management team and Uganda police.
At this time, Bobi Wine accused police of acting contrary to what the law states as far as greenlighting his concerts is concerned.
But after all these happenings, Bobi Wine was allowed to hold his concert at One Love Beach Busabala, amidst strict guidelines which he had to observe.
Among the guidelines laid, Bobi Wine was not supposed to do politics at the music show. He was instructed to concentrate on music alone.
But Bobi Wine under looked the stated guidelines and went ahead to address his political ideologies that including arguing youth to register for the National Identity Card in preparation for the 2021 presidential vote.
Again police blocked Bobi Wine’s Christmas season concert in December 2018, including his Mityana and Gulu arranged shows under claims that he did not inform police.
And following these blockages, Bobi Wine stood strong and said that despite of the intimidation president Museveni draws unto him including his government. He will not give up on his dreams and political goals he has for this country Uganda.
“Through these actions, Museveni you are revealing who you truly are. A brutal, cold and cowardly despot. You think you are hurting me and my dependants by blocking my sources of income, but you should know that the world is watching.”
In addition, Bobi Wine said he is prepared to make any sacrifice for the sake of justice and freedom of Ugandans. And if Boxing day concert he holds each year is one of the sacrifices he has to make, then he’s ready for that.
“If this is one of the many sacrifices I have to make for believing in justice and freedom. I will assure once again that if your intention is to break my resolve through harassment and intimidation you will certainly fail. I shall not kneel before you.”
