High anticipation and tension filled the air at Entebbe International Airport as supporters of the National Unity Platform (NUP) assembled to welcome their party leader, Robert ‘Bobi Wine’ Kyagulanyi, from his mobilisation tours in South Africa and Canada.
However, their joy was cut short when reports emerged that Bobi Wine was apprehended by unknown individuals immediately after alighting from the plane.
Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson Patrick Onyango on Wednesday said they had learnt that a group of NUP supporters were planning to conduct a procession starting from Entebbe International Airport and proceeding through several areas, including Kitoro, Katabi, Kitala, Kitende, Kajjansi, Lubowa, the Central Business District (CBD), Kalerwe, and finally up to Magere, Kasangati.
''Such a procession has the potential to disrupt the normal flow of traffic, the movement of individuals, and the operations of businesses along the Entebbe – Gayaza highway. It may also attract criminal activities, posing risks to bystanders, motorists, passengers, and businesses through acts of theft or other criminal activities,'' said Onyango adding;
''Therefore, we urge the organizers to cancel their planned procession. In future, we encourage organizers to coordinate and seek the necessary approvals from the Police to ensure the safety and security of all participants and the general public.''
The Ugandan Police’s blocking of Bobi Wine from leaving the country, despite the court declining to do so, raised a lot of eyebrows. Kyagulanyi’s arrest has stirred controversy and sparked debates about civil liberties and political suppression in Uganda. The series of events raises critical questions about the state of democracy and the rule of law in the country.