JOURNALISTS ARRESTED AS UGANDA POLICE BLOCK ‘BOBI WINE’ MEETING

Security officers deployed to disrupt Bobi Wine's consultative meeting in Lira town on January 8, 2020.

By Bill Oketch, LIRA Uganda

Police on Wednesday sealed off a hotel in Lira Town and ordered journalists to vacate the premises in attempt to block Kyadondo East Member of Parliament, Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine’s consultative meeting.

The musician-turned politician who has become a popular figure among young Ugandans announced last year that he would challenge President Museveni in the 2021 elections.

However, for the leader of the People Power movement to achieve this, he needs to consult the voters.

Accordingly, on December 3, Bobi Wine sent a letter to the Electoral Commission officially introducing himself and outlining his plans, which he published on social media.

But the first event at a Catholic Church in his constituency in Wakiso District on Monday could not proceed as police deployed before dawn to the site, prompting protests by his supporters.

Police also blocked the second event which was scheduled to take place in Gulu on Tuesday.

In the past, the police have warned opposition politicians that all events must comply with the Public Order Management Act 2013.

On Wednesday, dozens of heavily armed police deployed at Lira-based Pacific Grand Hotel and denied all people suspected to be involved in Bobi Wine’s meeting.

Two radio journalists were arrested before being released unconditionally after they tried to take pictures at the hotel.

“They arrested me and impounded my motorbike,” Mr Bismarck Olang of Radio Unity told Daily Monitor.

“I was later released but the police are still holding my bike,” he added.Hours later, Mr Alex Esagala of Daily Monitor, Mr Lawrence Kitata, Tamale David of Bukedde TV and Waiswa Moses of Radio, among other journalists were also ordered to report to Lira police station when they arrived at the venue to cover the meeting on Wednesday.

A police officer who declined identify herself said she was under instructions not to allow journalists mess up their plans.“Two undisciplined journalists came here in the morning and they were dealt with,” she said.

This is contrary to what police spokesman, Mr Fred Enanga told journalists in Kampala on Tuesday. Mr Enanga said that Bobi Wine's Lira consultation meeting would proceed as earlier planned.

According to Mr Enanga, however, the MP and other members of his People Power movement would not be allowed to hold their consultative meetings in open places.

When contacted, Mr Milton Odongo, head of security in Lira, who doubles as the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) said he was not aware of “the whole drama.”

On Tuesday morning, he told this publication that sniffer dogs would be deployed to provide "guaranteed security" at Bobi Wine’s Wednesday meeting.

Later in the evening of Tuesday, Mr Odongo again telephoned Daily Monitor to say they had blocked the meeting.