Bobi Wine charged, airlifted to Makindye

Kyaddondo East MP, Mr Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine who was arrested on Monday in Arua town together with several opposition politicians, has been arraigned before the General Court Martial in Gulu and  charged with unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.

The court was chaired by Lt Gen Andrew Gutti.

According to a Thursday statement by the army spokesperson, Brig, Richard Karemire, the MP has was subsequently remanded until Thursday next week.

“As part of the investigations into these acts of violence, the Police arrested key organizers and participants including Hon Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi the Member of Parliament for Kyadondo East Constituency. During the search of his hotel room by investigators, he was found possessing arms and ammunition which are ordinarily a monopoly of the Defence Forces,” Brig Karemire’s statement reads in part.  “Consequently, Hon Kyagulanyi has today been arraigned before the General Court Martial in Gulu and charged under S 119 (1) (h) of the UPDF Act, 2005 on accounts of unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. He has subsequently been remanded till 23rd August 2018”.

He was charged in the presence of only his two lawyers; Mr Asuman Basalirwa (Bugiri Municipality MP) and Mr Medard Seggona (Busiro East MP).

According Mr Asuman Basalirwa, Mr Kyagulanyi’s lawyer, who was inside the courtroom, his client’s face was swollen and could hardly talk or walk.

Mr Seggona said Mr Kyagulanyi didn’t take plea since he was in a very poor health condition and handcuffed.

“Mr Kyagulanyi’s health is in dire state. He is in great pain. He can’t talk, he can’t walk, he sits with a lot of difficulty, his face is swollen and cannot see because of the torture by SFC soldiers. He couldn’t speak when the charges were read to him and I believe he didn’t know what was going or understood the charges read to him,” Mr Seggona told journalists.

Mr Basalirwa said Mr Kyagulanyi was airlifted to Kampala in a chopper. It’s not clear whether the MP who campaigned for Mr Kassiano Wadri, the eventual winner of the Arua Municipality by-election, has been taken to hospital or a military prison.

He, however, said they agreed with Gen Gutti to ensure that Mr Kyagulanyi gets immediate medical attention and is granted unlimited access to his lawyers and relatives.

Wife breaks down

Ms Barbara Itungo, the wife of Mr Kyagulanyi broke down when her husband’s lawyers narrated how he was tortured.

“As a wife and a mother, I feel my patience is being tested so much. Government should let me have access to my husband. I am concerned about his state because I understand he was beaten by the soldiers,” she said.

READ:

Family, lawyers denied access to Bobi Wine as FDC MPS are released

The soldiers inside refused to confirm whether or not the MP was in the barracks