Bobi Wine’s kidneys are fine, says Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah

Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, alias Bobi Wine (centre), is supported by MPs, supporters and family members as he walks out of the court room after appearing before the General Court Martial in Gulu on Thursday. PHOTO BY ABUBAKER LUBOWA

GULU-The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr Jacob Oulanyah Friday said the kidneys of detained and ailing Kyadondo East Member of Parliament Mr Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine are “all fine” adding that his health is steadily improving.

According to Mr Oulanyah, the tests that were conducted at St Mary’s Hospital Lacor on Thursday by a team of medics who were led by Dr Joseph Andama, the Uganda Prisons head of Medical Department, indicate that Bobi Wine’s kidneys were functioning well.

“Mr Kyagulanyi had suspicion about his kidneys. He was yesterday [Thursday] taken to St Mary’s Hospital Lacor, where doctors led by Dr Anzama carried out urine and blood tests and found out that his kidneys were functioning well. The doctors told me there was no problem at all with his kidneys,” Mr Oulanyah told journalists on Friday in Gulu town.

He, however, said Bobi Wine, who could hardly walk the day he was produced in court, is supposed to undergo blood screening and liver function test to ascertain his general health condition.

He made the revelation on Friday after visiting Bobi Wine and three members of Parliament who are on remand at Gulu Central Prison over treason charges.

Bobi Wine was remanded on Thursday after the army court dropped gun charges against him.

He was re-arrested shortly after being acquitted and charged with treason before a Grade One Magistrate Court that was presided over by Mr Yunus Ndiwalana.

 “Bobi Wine is still in pain but he is much better than three days ago when I met him. I think the environment [prison] is different from where he was [Makindye Military Barracks], he is ok and more relaxed, he has his colleagues, he feels more at home and the solidarity is fine,” Mr Oulanyah said.

Mr Oulanyah said that Mr Paul Mwiru, the Jinja East MP, who is in the same prison has a dislocated shoulder bone problem which, however, has been attended to by doctors.

“My visit was to find out how the legislators and others who are on remand are [doing] because we have a debate in Parliament on the same issue on Tuesday,” he said.

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New MPs’ report details Bobi Wine torture

President Museveni, in a statement issued days after the Arua fracas, said he had been briefed by doctors that handled Bobi Wine’s condition that the legislator was not injured

Mr Frank Baine, the Uganda Prisons Services Spokesperson told Daily Monitor that Bobi Wine was taken through medical checkups on Thursday in a private sick bay at the prison, a procedure that is done to new inmates.

Mr Baine said they have dispatched a team of competent medical personnel led by Dr Andama who are liaising with private doctors of the suspects to enable them get quality treatment.

Other politicians who were charged with treason and remanded at Gulu Central Prison include Kasiano Wadri (Arua Municipality MP-elect), Mr  Gerald Karuhanga (MP Ntumgamo Municipality), former Makindye East MP, Mr Mike Mabikke and 28 opposition supporters.

Prosecution alleges that the suspects along with others still at large, on August 13, in Arua Municipality and other places within Uganda, with intent to harm the president of Uganda, unlawfully threw stones, thereby hitting and smashing the rear windscreen of a presidential car.

The accused will reappear in court on August 30.