Bobi Wine's temporary freedom

PIC: There was a large crowd outside the Gulu Chief Magistrates Court, where MP Robert Kyagulanyi was transfered to following his re-arrest by Police after being freed by the army court. (Credit: Dennis Ojwee)

TRIAL

GULU - Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, was Thursday set free by the army court -- but his freedom was temporary.

Moments after being helped out of the court martial in Gulu at about 11:20am local time, Kyagulanyi was informed by the head of his legal team that he had been re-arrested by Police.

Medard Sseggona, swarmed by reporters outside the courtroom, said they would "fight from [the civilian] court the same way we have fought here [army court]".

Kyagulanyi was then helped into the Police vehicle by his wife, Barbie, and driven off to the Gulu Magistrates' Court.

Earlier, inside the courtroom, the state dropped charges against the legislator, who was charged last week with three counts of unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.

Kyagulanyi sat quietly, with his his head lowered, during the proceedings as his legal team made arguments on his behalf.

Sseggona, the lead defence lawyer, told court that it was not right to try their client in a military court, and prayed that Kyagulanyi is granted freedom.

"He needs urgent medical care," he added.

Once the court was adjourned briefly, Sseggona told reporters that it was only proper that after the state withdrawing charges against the MP, he be released.

Later, in his ruling, Lt. Gen. Andrew Gutti declared that the court he chairs had released Bobi Wine after terminating proceedings.

But that would not guarantee permanent freedom for the musician-legislator.

He would be held if there were other charges against him. The director of the criminal investigations department of Police, Grace Akullo, was also in court.

Later, she would have Bobi Wine re-arrested and driven off to a civilian court.

How we got here

Kyagulanyi was last week charged in Gulu military barracks, days after his arrest. His detention followed a violent incident in the buildup of the Arua Municipality by-election. As many as 12 candidates contested in the race to replace slain MP Ibrahim Abiriga, with independent Kassiano Wadri taking the day.

The violence, according to Police began after supporters of Wadri pelted President Yoweri Museveni's motorcade after campaigning for his partyflagbearer Nusura Tiperu, who eventually emerged second-best in the contest.

This episode set in motion a series of events, including tthe arrest of Wadri, MPs Francis Zaake (Mityana Municipality), Paul Mwiru (Jinja East) and Gerald Karuhanga (Ntungamo Municipality).

Wadri, the legislators and 29 other suspects were transfered to Gulu, from where they were charged with treason. Meanwhile, Bobi Wine was charged separately before the army court with three counts of unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.

It was alleged that Bobi Wine was found in possession of two submachine guns, ordinarily the monopoly of the defence forces.

Prosecution also alleged that Bobi Wine was found in possession of 35 bullets of calibre 7.62mmx39mm, equipment of the defence forces, in his hotel room.

Prayers held

On Wednesday, prayers were held at Rubaga Cathedral in Kampala dedicated to Kyagulanyi and others in detention.

"When I met my husband, he asked me to organise Holy Mass sot that Ugandans pray for him and others in detention," Barbie said.

She asked people to light candles in the Church as per her husband's request. The prayers were organised by the Uganda Performers Association.

It was a filled Mass, with the likes of veteran FDC politician Col Kizza Besigye and current and former Leader of Opposition in Parliament Betty Aol Ochan and Winfred Kiiza in attendance.

Several Bobi Wine supporters demonstrated outside the grand cathedral and demanded his and others MPs' release.

'It should never have happened'

Meanwhile, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament visited Bobi Wine and bedridden Zaake, and later condemned the manner in which the legislators were tortured by security operatives following their arrest in Arua last week.

"This situation should never have happened. Never," he said.

"What I have seen is that both of them (Kyagulanyi and Zaake) are in a lot of pain," added Oulanyah.

"When I visited Bobi Wine, he was able to come and sit with me. We joked and we were laughing, but he is in a lot of pain. Similarly, Zaake is in a lot of pain. He has wounds on his fingers. They were both taken for imaging and no internal injuries and bleeding were seen."

Despite receiving treatment at Rubaga Hospital and Makindye Military Hospital, MPs that visited the two legislators intimated that the two MPs need specialised medical care.

More to follow . . .