Bobi Wine faces treason charges

PIC: Police detectives in the presence of Police's Josephine Angucia taking records of the recovered items. (Credit: Robert Ariaka)

ARUA MUNICIPALITY BY-ELECTION

Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi (aka Bobi Wine) is being held on charges of treason and inciting violence.

Bobi Wine was also Wednesday facing charges of unlawful possession of firearms.

Malicious damage to the motorvehicle belonging to the convoy of the President is another charge that the MP is facing.

The Police spokesperson of north-western region, Josephine Angucia, told reporters on Wednesday that Bobi Wine and Arua Municipality by-election candidate Kassiano Wadri were arrested on Monday and Tuesday respectively and they are currently under Police detention.

She said 35 people, including Bobi Wine and Wadri, are all under police custody.

"Kassiano Wadri was arrested with one pistol, which had 12 rounds of ammunition(...) It was found with him during the time of his arrest. He even confessed that he is licensed to have it.

"Investigations are ongoing, witnesses are making statements, a case file is in the process of being filed, and then later on, appropriate action will be decided," said Angucia (pictured).

Arua Police recovered two submachine guns and a pistol from Bobi Wine and Wadri. The two submachine guns were found in a room at Pacific Hotel where the legislature was living. One had 16 rounds of ammunition and the other 19. Police also recovered 46 white tablets suspected to be drugs.   Altogether, 75 rounds of ammunition were recovered. The pistol was found in Wadri's possession. Other items found were three Ugandan flags, six red T-shirts, 10 smart phones, a GPR machine, a red jacket and red bags.

Arua Municipality went to the polls on Wednesday to find a replacement for MP Ibrahim Abiriga, who was murdered on June 8 on his way to his home.

As many as 12 candidates, including two independents, are vying for the vacant parliamentary position.

Th crowded cast has seen Bobi Wine supporting Wadri in a race that also has NRM flagbearer Nusura Tiperu, FDC's Bruce Musema, Kennedy Madira of DP and JEEMA's Jaffar Alekua.

The other independent hopefuls in contention are Jackson Atima, Robert Ejiku, Francis Nyero, Sunday Anguandia, Alfred Nyakuni, Simon Avutia and Safi Bavuga.