Uganda police block supporters and media from Bobi Wine's home after arrival

KAMPALA,

Ugandan musician turned politician, Mr Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, arrived at his home in Magere, outside Kampala, almost three hours after he landed at the Entebbe International Airport from where security forces promptly chauffeured him away.

Daily Monitor journalists Andrew Bagala and Alex Esagala reported deafening celebrations in Mr Kyangulanyi’s backyard.

BLOCKED

However, police blocked journalists and supporters from entering the home of the Kyadondo East MP, an increasingly vocal critic of President Museveni’s government.

On Wednesday, police made it clear in a statement that they would transport the legislator upon arrival straight to his home and anyone standing by the roadside to catch a glimpse of the politician or welcome him at the airport would be arrested.

And that they did. Police and soldiers, supported by intelligence operatives, set up a number of roadblocks on the highway to the airport and blocked motorists from using the alternative Entebbe expressway.

Those who dared were either arrested or beaten, forcing them to retreat.

Journalists were barred from accessing the airport and about a dozen were taken in for questioning, although police spokesman Emilian Kayima said all were later freed.

POLICE ESCORT

“Today, Thursday, 20 September, 2018, Hon Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi returned to the country and was peacefully escorted by the police to his residence in Magere, Wakiso District. We wish to thank him for cooperating with the police at Entebbe International Airport that provided him with transport, escort and a lead car to his home,” Mr Kayima noted in a statement.

He thanked “members of the public” for “adhering” to police guidelines issued on Wednesday for Bobi’s home-coming after three weeks away in the US from where he led an international media blitz to criticise the Uganda government.

Social media users, however, bashed the government for adopting draconian methods to keep citizens and opposition politicians at bay.

Shortly after police spokesman Kayima’s statement, the Uganda Media Centre (UMC), a government communication clearing house, issued a public notice to confirm Bobi Wine was safely at his home after “cooperating” with police.

With journalists denied access to the airport, it remained unclear what transpired on the road from where the legislator was picked up by security forces.

CELEBRATION

In the Thursday statement, UMC executive director Ofwono Opondo, noted that: “For avoidance of any doubt, Hon Kyagulanyi did not attempt to resist police request to escort him home.”

At his home, nevertheless, it was all celebrations. The crowd gathered rapidly, prompting police and soldiers to first beat them back before firing live bullets and teargas to disperse the euphoric constituents.

Some of them sang an altered rendition of a popular pro-Milton Obote song, except they this time substituted the name of the former two-time Uganda president, who died in 2005, with that of their new favourite politician Bobi Wine.