Kyadondo East MP, Robert Kyagulanyi Sentuma aka Bobi Wine has narrated what happened when police arrested him on his return from the US yesterday.
The musician turned legislator said that while in the interrogation room at Entebbe Airport police, the cops among other things alleged that he was receiving money from Bill Gates the world’s richest man to illegally topple this government.
“I stepped off the plane and then the Kampala Metropolitan Police commander and another officer came to me and said they wanted to talk to me.
I asked if I had committed a crime, they told me that I didn’t have a crime. I told them I could talk to them at a later date because I was tired, as I had had a long flight,” Bobi Wine narrated the circumstances before his arrest.
“As I was driving out of the airport, they put barricades in front of my car and consequently I was arrested and taken to Entebbe Airport police station and question on different allegations of terrorism, they alleged that Bill Gates is giving me money to remove this government using illegal means,” Bobi Wine said.
“Eventually I was charged for inciting violence as per the audio and video that I recorded (against amending Article 102 (B) of the Constitution that stipulates a 75 year age limit for a Presidential candidate),” Bobi narrated.
The firebrand was accused of abandoning the cause against lifting the Presidential Age Limit that would as good as guarantee Museveni Life Presidency when he skipped last Thursday’s plenary sitting in Parliament that was to decide the matter.
Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah adjourned the sitting because of rowdy opposition MPs who couldn’t allow him to conduct business, marking a preliminary victory for the opposition but many feel Bobi should have attended instead of being abroad.
Bobi in his defence says the struggle also needs international allies.
“Let me explain to my voters why I wasn’t around. I received a rare invitation from Bill Gates and his wife Melinda to go and attend a global conference, which was also attended by former US President Barrack Obama and other Prime Ministers from across the world. I thought it was important so I agreed with my fellow members of Parliament in the Opposition that I should go there because our international relations are very important in our struggle,” he said.
Bobi Wine also explained why he recorded the audio instead of voicing his concerns on the floor of Parliament.
“I told my voters that my job is not only going to be in Parliament as you already understand that the Parliament is more or less a rubber stamp for the executive. I believe the power lies in the people, but these people have to be sensitised, so I was sending a message to the people to tell them that it is actually their Constitutional right as per Article 3, sub section 4 of the Constitution that every Ugandan has a duty to protect the Constitution,” he said.
“If this article 102 (B) is removed, then this Constitution is useless, then President Museveni is going to rule us forever.”
“I’m calling upon all Ugandans not to sit down. Rise up and defend the Constitution, before the Constitution is too weak to defend us,” he said.