Court summons IGP, AG over Bobi Wine concerts
What you need to know:
- Directive. In April, assistant IGP Assuman Mugenyi directed police commanders to block all planned music concerts by Mr Kyagulanyi.
Court has directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Martins Okoth-Ochola and the Attorney General (AG), Mr William Byaruhanga, to appear for hearing of a case in which music promoters are challenging the police decision to indefinitely halt them from organising ‘Kyarenga extra concerts’.
Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, had been listed as the main performer in the concerts that were slated at One Love Beach Busabala in Wakiso District, and upcountry districts of Lira, Gulu, and Arua.
High Court Judge Lydia Mugambe yesterday ordered the two accused parties to appear so that court proceeds with the hearing.
“Since the other parties are not here (in court), we cannot have this matter heard exparte. Let us adjourn the matter for the respondents to appear,” ruled Justice Mugambe before setting October 31 for hearing of the case.
The court directive was prompted by failure of the IGP and AG and or their representatives to appear for hearing of the case.
Music event
In a sworn statement, Mr Abby Musinguzi, trading as Abtex Productions and Mr Andrew Mukasa, trading as Bajjo Events and Marketing Agency Ltd, state that they entered into a contract for services with Mr Kyagulanyi to organise music concerts during the Easter period in different parts of the country where the MP and his crew were meant to perform and also provide more artistes for entertainment of revellers at a total cost of Shs230m and that they paid half of the consideration being a non-refundable booking fee on all shows.
However, in an April 19 directive, assistant IGP Assuman Mugenyi asked police commanders to block all planned music concerts by Mr Kyagulanyi.
Mr Mugenyi said the commanders must comply because the musician-cum-politician had allegedly always disregarded the set and agreed upon guidelines for such activities.
The music promoters are now seeking court orders to quash police decision of halting Kyarenga extra concerts indefinitely and instead direct the police chief to provide security at their music concerts.
Case
Through their lawyers led by Mr Erias Lukwago, the music promoters contend that the police directives were illegal, irrational and an abuse of the powers of their offices.
It is alleged that the decisions were made in violation of their right to a fair hearing guaranteed under Articles 28, 42 and 44 of the Constitution.
“The arrest and detention of the first applicant (Musinguzi) and Andrew Mukasa (the managing director of Bajjo Events) on April 22, the day on which the Kyarenga extra concerts were to premier at Busabaala Beach, deprived them of their personal liberties and amounted to violation of their right to carry on trade and business contrary to Article 20, 23 and 40 of the Constitution,” reads the court documents.
