I can only exercise prerogative of mercy on Bobi Wine and others, but have no other power- Museveni
President Museveni has issued yet another missive on Kyadondo East Member of Parliament, Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine.
The General Court Martial sitting in Gulu on Thursday dropped charges related to unlawful possession of guns against Kyagulanyi before the Chief Magistrates court charged him of treason for allegedly stoning President Museveni’s convoy with an intent to harm him.
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However, Museveni has issued the sixth statement since the chaos in Arua last week insisting he has no powers to release Kyagulanyi or any other person before the trial commences.
“On the issue of releasing the people on remand, it is only the Courts or the DPP that can cause the freeing of these people. The President can only come after the trial and convictions. Then, the President can exercise the prerogative of mercy. Before that the President is not empowered to do anything,” reads in part Museveni’s sixth missive.
Countrymen, Countrywomen and Bazukulu.
Greetings again. Yesterday while talking about the Security forces and the Bobi Wine group, I made reference to financiers of rioters who hope to damage the economy of Uganda which is, finally , taking off by developing fast.
I referred to the fact that the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Trade of Kenya told me recently, during the visit of the Kenyan Deputy President, that, in recent months, Uganda has been exporting more to Kenya than Kenya has been exporting to Uganda. I asked him to send me the figures and they are here below:
| 2018 | Uganda | Kenya |
| Jan | $186m | $96m |
| Feb | $149m | $121m |
| March | $115m | $132m |
| April | $131m | $92m |
| May | $228m | $132m |
Except for March, in all the other months, Uganda has been exporting more to Kenya than the other way round.
On the issue of releasing the people on remand, it is only the Courts or the DPP that can cause the freeing of these people. The President can only come after the trial and convictions.
Then, the President can exercise the prerogative of mercy. Before that the President is not empowered to do anything.
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni
President
