Bobi Wine should prove he was tortured, injected with poisonous substances – Opondo

The Ugandan government has rubbished claims by Kyadondo East Member of Parliament Robert Kyagulanyi that he was injected with unknown poisonous substances on top of being tortured by security agencies.

Kyagulanyi who is in the US for specialized treatment through his international lawyer Robert Amsterdam  said he is set to address a news conference on Thursday  evening  and among the key issues will include circumstances under which  he was grossly tortured by security forces in Arua on August 13.

However, in response, the government spokesperson Ofwono Opondo has warned the legislator and his lawyer against making allegations that are not substantiated.

“The case of the Member of Parliament Robert Kyagulanyi a.k.a Bobi Wine  is before courts of law in Uganda for treason and inciting violence and no doubt his lawyers are trying to get him off the hook by employing diversionary tacticis in raising the tantalizing although unproven, allegations of torture,”Opondo said in a statement on Thursday afternoon.

According to government, it is surprising that the legislator who was early this week allowed to fly out of the country for further treatment has continued to allege that he was tortured without proving so in courts of law.

Opondo said there are clear channels through which Kyagulanyi can raise any issues he wants addressed other than calling for  a press conference on a foreign land.

“If indeed Bobi Wine was tortured or injected with unknown substances as being claimed,he should quickly return to Uganda to raise those matters before court where the trial will be and they shall be transparently investigated and culprits punished.”

Opondo added, “Otherwise they are nonsensical because Bobi Wine is not the only subject in this case and the Ugandan government does not use assassination against its opponents or even enemies.”

According to the government spokesperson, Uganda Medical Board constituted a team of specialists who examined the legislator and found that there was nothing warranting further medication abroad.

Warns Bobi Wine lawyer

Government has also taken a swipe at Robert Amsterdam for referring to Uganda as a criminal enterprise, saying that it is wrong and unfounded.

“We strongly reject Mr. Amsterdam’s reference of the Uganda government as a ‘criminal enterprise because Uganda is governed in accordance with our own democratic Constitution, laws and rules, as well as respect to recognized international standards,”Opondo said in the statement.

Amsterdam, who is a lawyer has also been warned against purporting to be a medical doctor and continues analyzing Kyagulanyi’s medical condition and later make statements regarding his health.