Kampala Metropolitan Police chief, Frank Mwesigwa issued a statement on Wednesday saying popular artist-turned-politician Bobi Wine should not perform at music concerts pending investigations.
“He uttered words that are inciteful to the public,” the police said, later emphasizing that one can’t use music to push their political ambitions.
Responding to a police order, the lawmaker, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi yesterday revealed that the governing NRM party approached him to promote their agenda through sing but he declined.
In a statement posted on his official facebook account, charged-up Bobi Wine said such an order from police shows the extent to which “this regime does not value human life and the extent to which they will go to keep in power against the will of Ugandans- even if it means killing people in cold blood!”
Bobi Wine likened using his talent to promote the leadership agenda of the incumbent government to blasphemy.
“I Kyagulanyi Ssentamu – Bobi Wine, shall never sell my soul to the devil. I shall never use my voice to sing for a dictatorship that is running our country to hell. I shall never sing to console the enemies of the people. I shall never use my voice to betray my country. And yes, I shall always sing about the plight of our people. Their voice shall be my voice. I shall always sing for a better Uganda, because friends, this is the only home we have- whatever is still left of it, we are Ugandans,” he said.
“Several offers have been made to turn me into one of their puppets. But I rejected them flat. They told me recently that they will block my shows and frustrate my businesses until I run broke. Too bad for them, they have been made to believe that money is everything. They wrongly think that by stopping my shows they will impoverish me, break my firmness and compromise my values,” he added.
Soon after, Bobi Wine through his Lawyers of Rwakafuuzi and Company Advocates threw Frank Mwesigwa and the Attorney General Mwesigwa Rukutana to court, seeking compensation of 300million for foiled shows at Colline Hotel Mukono, Kamuli, Busoga and in Kasese district where he had been invited and paid.
The ban, according to Bobi Wine, contravenes Article 40 (2) of the constitution.
“Every person in Uganda has the right to practice his or her profession and to carry on any lawful occupation, trade or business,” the article reads.
The 35-year-old is among opposition MPs who have been at the fore front of opposing a plan to lift the presidential age limit, which is currently capped 75.
Its removal is seen “as a plot to remove barriers that would allow 73-year-old President Yoweri Museveni to run in 2021.”
aaron@ugchristiannews.com
