Bobi Wine supporters claim security operatives taking away their IDs, police promise investigation

By Jordan Mubangizi

Kyadondo East Member of Parliament and People Power leader Robert Kyagulanyi (AKA Bobi Wine) has accused Police and Local Defence Unit officials of depriving people suspected to be his supporters of their national Identity Cards.

Kyagulanyi, better known by his music moniker Bobi Wine, has called upon his supporters to protest this treatment peacefully. He accuses the force of subjective policing.

Bobi Wine says he was informed by his supporters that they are often stopped in the night by security operatives demanding identification. These operatives retain IDs by people they suspect to be People Power supporters. Some of these national IDs are destroyed on the spot.

Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango says, "“We are going to investigate the matter but I believe it is false. Some of these people just want to taint the image of the security forces especially the newly deployed LDUs.’’

Bobi Wine has been meeting his supporters from across the country at his Wakiso home at Magere. The different groups of people come from Mubende, Mityana, Kyankwanzi and Wakiso districts. Among the many issues raised by his supporters was intimidation and harassment by state apparatus more especially where security officers deprive People Power supporters of their national IDs and destroy them.

Addressing the media, Bobi Wine says, “We know there are mass operations against our supporters all over the country. Their national IDs are taken away and destroyed but all I can say is that we are not intimidated even when they do this to intimidate us.”

The different groups had turned up at Bobi Wine's home to strategize ahead of the much anticipated 2021 general elections. He advised his supporters to peacefully protest against the measure of depriving them of their citizen rights.

But Police has strongly warned Bobi Wine's supporters not to engage in protests that are outside the law.