By Andrew Irumba
The Uganda Police Force (UPF) have summoned People Power movement principal Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine and Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) stalwart and ‘people’s government’ leader Dr Kizza Besigye, to record statements for breaching President Yoweri Museveni’s COVID-19 directives on banning political gatherings during the lockdown and inciting the masses.
We have learnt from credible sources that Bobi Wine, who is also Kyadondo East Member of Parliament and Besigye have since received their summons from police.
The development comes a day after police and LDUs stormed Floral Hotel in Wakiso on Monday, where Besigye, Bobi Wine, Lord Mayor Elias Lukwago, Mukono MP Betty Nambooze, president of FDC Patrick Amuriat among others had held a press conference to announce an alliance for all political parties in Uganda ahead of the 2021 General Election.
Druing the press conference, Bobi Wine and Besigye announced that they had decided to come together as opposition politicians under an umbrella body dubbed ‘United Forces for Change’ aka ‘No, Nedda’ which they will use to unite all opposition parties and politicians with an objective of ousting president Yoweri Museveni in the 2021 presidential elections.
Bobi Wine and Besigye also called upon all Ugandans to hit empty saucepans, blow whistles or vuvuzelas and every other object they can as a way of making noise at government to give them more relief food during the COVID-19 lockdown.
However, midway through the conference, police stormed the venue and disrupted the gathering, after declaring it illegal.
Police spokesperson Fred Enanga said the politicians did not observe the Ministry of Health Guidelines aimed at combating the spread of COVID-19.
“The Meeting was restricted to not more than five people. Now the information we had was that the gathering was for more than 70 people. We have now summoned them to record statements and amongst those we have; Hon. Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, Rtd. Col. Dr Kizza Besigye, the KCCA Lord Mayor Elias Lukwago” he said.
It should be noted that President Museveni banned political, religious, cultural and any other functions that require several people to gather in one place, because it exposes them to risks of getting infected by COVID-19.
He also warned that anyone found breaching all the Guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health to fight the spread of COVID-19 will be arrested and prosecuted.
The police thus contend that Bobi Wine and Besigye’s acts tantamount to breaching the Presidential Directives on COVID-19 and acts of urging people to make noise by blowing whistles, hitting saucepans and other objects tantamount to inciting the public, hence reason why they have been summoned to record statements.
