VIDEO: They arrested me, started beating me to tell them where Bobi Wine was- MP

The Jinja East Member of Parliament, Paul Mwiru has shared details about his arrest and that of his colleague members of parliament.

Mwiru was among the 33 people who were yesterday granted bail by Gulu High Court.

Outside court, an upbeat Mwiru with arm in sling said that on the fateful day of his arrest and beating, security officials attached to the President with support of Police and army broke into their hotel rooms and beat whoever they chanced on.

“When they arrested me, they started beating me asking where Bobi Wine was, I went to Arua on my own accord and Bobi Wine should be accountable as a person. There was violation of human rights, there was nothing to do with Arua, it was just a plan from Museveni to break our spirit,” Mwiru said.

Mwiru insisted that there was no scenario where the Kassiano Wadri and camp collided with Museveni and his convoy.

“It is a lie, we had our rally in Ole division and Museveni in Arua hill division, we did not encounter anywhere, this was just a plot to disorganise us and win elections,” he said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wivn5RKwSFM

“None of us was arrested at scene of crime, the SFC boys and police came and broke into our hotels. There are younger people picked along the way, on Boda Bodas and were taken with us, they are now on same charge with us.”

Mwiru said that the situations they have faced have not broken their spirit but rather galvanised them. He said they might have broken bones now but they are stronger than ever. The legislator said that they have forgiven Museveni because they understand his desperation.

“On my behalf and on behalf of others, we have forgiven the president for perpetuating this torture, I think his intention was to break the spirit but he can only break our bodies, I think the President can do better, we understand the desperation to remain president of Uganda,” Mwiru said.

The High Court in Gulu yesterday released on bail 34 people who were arrested during the chaos in Arua that allegedly culminated into the stoning of President Museveni’s convoy.

Through their lawyers led by Medard Sseggona, the group argued that they have their constitutional right, their deteriorating health situation after the alleged torture by security agencies and presumption of innocence among their grounds for applying for bail.

In response, the state prosecutor Lilian Omara did not object to the bail application but asked for stringent terms including confiscation of their passports before being temporarily released.

In his ruling, Justice Stephen Mubiru agreed with both parties and warned the accused against discussing the ingredients of the matter in a public domain as this would be prejudicing the case in court.

The politicians are however supposed to appear before the Gulu chief magistrates court on August 30.