Police raid DP youth offices, impound T-shirts honouring Bobi Wine's slain driver

Police on Tuesday raided offices of the Democratic Party youth wing, the Uganda Young Democrats (UYD), and impounded T-shirts bearing words “Rest in Peace” in memory of Yasin Kawuma, the driver of Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine, who was shot dead during the Arua by-election violence last year.
Addressing journalists at their offices in Kampala, the UYD administrator, Mr Isaac Maddo, said police raided their offices at Johnson Street in Kampala and arrested four members who were sorting out the T-shirts. He said the police took about 300 T-shirts.
“Members, who were arrested, include John Mary Sebuufu, Moses Kataabu, Fulugensio Musoke and Erisa Kaddu, who were preparing to go for the funeral prayers of the late Kawuma in Lusanja on Gayaza Road [Wakiso District],” he said.
Mr Maddo denied police claims that the words on the T -shirts were inciting violence. He said they asked police why they had raided their offices but received no explanation.
“We have been following the case of the late Kawuma and police have failed to produce the report. When we decide to commemorate the day he was killed, police want to stop us,” he said.
Mr Maddo added that as human right activists, they want the day declared a public holiday in Uganda because Kawuma died while fighting for freedom.
“We urge Ugandans that the struggle is still going on and we are going to fight up to the last man and liberate this country,” he said.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango said they had received information that there were some people printing T shirts with inciting messages.
“He [district police commander] brought two people for questioning and we have them here at CPS to help police to verify information. We are not arresting anybody; they are just going to be interrogated and go for their lawful businesses,” he said.
Mr Onyango said the two, who were taken to CPS Kampala are Mr Erisa Kaddu Erisa and Mr Fulugensio Musoke
The arrests came at a time the family of late Kawuma and People Power movement had organised prayers to remember the deceased.