Police cancel Bobi Wine Boxing Day Concert

Uganda Police Force spokesperson Emilian Kayima has said that musician and legislator Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, best known by his stage name Bobi Wine, will not hold his Boxing Day concert.

Asked if Bobi Wine will be able to hold his Boxing Day concert, Kayima said, "I don't see it happening."

Kayima's comments were in response to a Facebook post by the Kyadondo legislator complaining that, "A few minutes past midnight today, hordes of soldiers have been dropped by military trucks in Busabala. They have surrounded my premises at One Love Beach, where we were organising a Boxing Day show later today."

Bobi Wine added, "They have ordered the stage and sound engineers to bring down the stage and pull down all materials we had put in place for the show. They have arrested my employees including the kitchen staff and all the people who were preparing to sell merchandise at the show. They have sent away our guests who were lodging at the Beach tonight and ordered all people out of the premises. As we speak, the premises are completely cordoned off as if it's a crime scene!"

Kayima defended the police decision arguing that, "If we must play by the rules of engagement, why not him? The last time he had such, he had over 30,000 people. And we all know when you are going to gather all those people, are you sure that they are going to be secure? We put these guidelines not out of the blue. We want them to abide by these."

http://nilepost.co.ug/2018/12/22/mps-govt-disagree-over-bobi-wines-concerts/

Bobi Wine said in the same post that, "They are doing this despite Parliament's resolution last week declaring that blocking my shows is unconstitutional, has no basis in law, and should be stopped forthwith."

http://nilepost.co.ug/2018/12/06/police-denies-cancelling-bobi-wine-kyarenga-extra-concerts-says-failed-to-follow-guidelines/

The police spox Kayima insisted that Bobi Wine is obliged to seek permission from the force to hold the concert. He said, "If he writes and the response does not come, then you can't have it."

Following the cancellation of Bobi Wine concert appearance in Jinja earlier this month, Kayima shared with the press the safety guidelines all concert organisers must follow. Among the rules are;

1. The organisers must write to the Inspector General or Police for clearance.
2. The organisers must avail to the IGP measures they are putting in place for controlling crowds.
3. Organisers must show that they have put in place measures and capacity to handle emergencies.
4. Deployment of stewards must be proportionate to the crowds and threat levels.
5. All unit commanders must take these measures seriously.