Uganda’s Bobi Wine due to appear before a military court. ‘for treason’

August 16, 2018
| Report Focus News

The musician and opposition lawmaker was taken into custody yesterday and is now being charged with treason.

Uganda’s popular Afrobeats musician and MP Robert Kyagulanyi, known as Bobi Wine, is due to appear before a military court.

According to the state-run New Vision newspaper, he is to be charged with treason, unlawful possession of firearms and malicious damage to President Yoweri Museveni’s motorcade.

Wine will be tried along with opposition politician Kassiano Wadri, who won Wednesday’s fiercely contested municipal by-election against the ruling party in the northern town of Arua.

The two were arrested after a vehicle in President Yoweri Museveni’s convoy was attacked late on Monday. Wine’s driver was later shot dead.

Wine was admitted to a military hospital on Wednesday for unspecified treatment, the deputy prime minister told parliament.

He has emerged as a leading opponent of Mr Museveni since he became an independent MP last year, and has been touted as a potential challenger to him in the 2021 election.

Mr Museveni has been in power since 1986, and is expected to run for office again.