Bobi Wine an ‘indisciplined’ grandson – Museveni
Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has dismissed reports that opposition MPs in detention are being tortured.
He warned the media against spreading news that “our grandson, the indisciplined MP Bobi Wine” was gravely injured by security forces who arrested him.
Reports that the MP, real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, was severely tortured and injured have been trending in social media for the last few days.
According to Mr Museveni, the politicians have to face the law for using violence to disrupt elections in Arua Municipality last week, won by jailed opposition independent candidate Kassiano Wadri.
‘SHORTCUTS’
“Anybody who is a friend of the young politicians like Bobi Wine should advise them that shortcuts like cheating, importing voters, intimidating the voters of the other side, ballot stuffing etc will lead them and Uganda to doom. That is what the young politicians of independence thought and did and it led to disaster,” said Museveni.
Mr Museveni also downplayed reports that the musician-turned-politician was detained because a vehicle in the presidential motorcade was stoned during confrontations between opposition supporters and police last week.
He boasted that he has fought bigger wars that cannot be matched with stone-throwing.
“The President has the capacity, either alone or in company with his personal security, to defend himself, not only against stone throwers but against any attacker. I have done that for the last 48 years,” he said.
According to Mr Museveni, the MPs were detained for forming and leading violent groups that used stones as missiles “to attack defenceless women, children and other civilians” so as to disrupt elections.
“Throwing of stones, in close proximity in built up areas, is intention to kill,” said the president in a statement.
TRAVEL ADVICE
Meanwhile, the British Government has cautioned its citizens about traveling to Uganda due to heightened political tensions in parts of the country.
In a travel advice issued on Sunday night, the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) warned that there are possibilities of violent protests following the arrest of several opposition Members of Parliament.
Opposition leaders and their supporters in Uganda are protesting against the government’s decision to detain MPs after violent confrontations with security forces during last week’s elections in Arua Municipality with claims spreading that they are being tortured.
“There is an increased likelihood of protests, which may turn violent, across Uganda,” the UK said in a statement.