In his fourth installment of letters about the Arua violence last Monday, President Museveni has said he no powers to release the detained singing musician, Bobi Wine.
Museveni was responding to comments on his previous letter released through Facebook where people called upon him to release Bobi Wine.
“On the issue of releasing Bobi Wine and the others, the President of Uganda does not have such powers. Once somebody is arrested, charged and remanded, it is only two authorities who can release such people in any way: the Courts or the DPP withdrawing charges if the evidence is not enough. Let us, therefore, wait for the Courts and see what they decide.”
In the same letter, Museveni lashed out at politicians who are taking of the rampant youth unemployment to recruit them to violent organisations to further their own interests.
“We now have the money to launch a serious assault on the poverty and hopelessness that renders our Bazukulu vulnerable to manipulation and exploitation by unprincipled politicians. I have proof of this which I will bring out at the right moment,” Museveni said.
The president condemned the shooting of protestors and the beating of journalists during the #FreeBobiWine protests.
“Our youth groups on Monday were more of a nuisance and psychological warfare than a menace. Why then, shoot at them, why fire tear-gas, why fire bullets? Those mobile, tyre burning groups, who are not attacking anybody, should simply be chased on foot, arrested and be charged with appropriate offenses.”
On beating journalists,“It is true that the journalists working for foreign interests or for our own local parasites tell lies, they do not do balanced reporting. On account of that, you can block them because sometimes they interfere with the scene of crime. If they refuse, you arrest them and charge them with disobeying a lawful command. Beating, however, is wrong because the Security forces do not have that power.”