By Our
Correspondent, Gulu UGANDA
The State
on Tuesday slapped five more criminal charges against Kyadondo East Member of
Parliament (MP) Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, alongside 36 other suspects
in connection with the alleged stoning of President Museveni’s car in Arua
Municipality last year.
Kyadondo East Member of Parliament (MP) Robert Kyagulanyi |
Initially the 37 suspects were facing charges
of treason and acts to alarm, annoy or ridicule the President.
The new charges include incitement to violence,
disobedience of lawful orders, going armed in certain places, failure to
prevent obstruction of traffic, confusion or disorder during a public meeting
and failure to give right of way.
"He was charged with annoying the
president" in relation to the same case, his lawyer Asuman Basalirwa told
this reporter.
All the suspects denied the fresh charges
before Grade One Magistrate, Isaac Imran Kintu who extended their bail until
further notice.
The court also committed them to
the High Court. This means that they will have to wait on the registrar
of the Gulu High Court to list their case file for hearing.
Other suspects include MPs Francis Zaake
(Mityana Municipality), Paul Mwiru (Jinja Municipality East), Gerald Karuhanga
(Ntungamo Municipality), and Michael Mabike and John Mary Ssebuwufu.
Bobi Wine, who entered parliament in 2017, has
emerged as a leading critic of Museveni -- who has been in power for over three
decades -- and has faced multiple detentions while authorities have frustrated
his efforts to perform.
President Yoweri Museveni |
He announced last month that he would take on
Museveni in 2021 national elections.
"This government of President
Museveni is in panic mode. At first it was treason and now it is annoying
President Museveni. Who on earth can't be annoyed?" Bobi Wine said.
"It is a ridiculous charge and am ready to
challenge it in court," he said.
The new accusation against Wine comes just days
after prominent activist Stella Nyanzi was sentenced to 18 months in prison
over her vulgar posts on social media against Museveni -- which she sees as a
way to get her message across.
Bobi Wine is still facing charges in
another court, for staging a protest against a law that imposed a tax on mobile
money transactions and use of social media in 2018. – Daily Monitor
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