Presidential Candidate Bobi Wine and entire campaign team arrested in Kalangala

National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine has been arrested in Kigere Kya Njovu forest with his entire campaign team in Kalangala island on Lake Victoria.

Kyagulanyi who arrived in the island district aboard MV Ssese ferry was involved in a cat and a mouse chase with security who had deployed heavily. Following his arrest, Kyagulanyi was later airlifted to Kololo airstrip in Kampala before being forcefully driven to his home in Magere, Kasangati in Wakiso district.

More than 30 of Kyagulanyi’s campaign team, including his chief bodyguard Eddie Mutwe and renowned fashion designer Allan Rafael Kasule were also arrested.

Kasule, a key figure in the supply of T-shirts and the red berets to several young people associating with Kyagulanyi’s National Unity Platform (NUP), is accused for designing and selling NUP military attire in Kalangala. Also arrested were journalists, Culton Scovia Nakamya of BBS Tereffayina, Ghetto Media’s Ronald Kalyango and Daily Monitor’s Derrick Wandera.

Initially, other journalists had also been arrested until one security officer, who had all along disguised as a journalist, ordered for their release. “We were standing in a group as journalists.

It felt a little safe as the police & the military battled protesters in Kalangala town council. Suddenly, a teargas canister was thrown at us, instantly dispersing us. Moments later, the armed men came picked Culton Scovia Nakamya of BBS Terefayina.

Her crime; making updates over the social media. Earlier, Ghetto Media’s Ronald Kalyango had been picked.

Next person of interest was Daily Monitor’s Derrick Wandera. While Culton was later released, Derrick and the other journalists are under detention. That was before the military copter airlifted Bobi Wine out of Kalangala,” One of the Journalists narrates.

Meanwhile, a relative of Kasule who preferred anonymity revealed that they have tried all possible means to see him released but in vain. “It’s sad,” he said.

“We know he is innocent and he is just a fashion designer from which he earns his living but our efforts to have him released haven’t been fruitful so far.” He added.

Allan Rafael Kasule

Police has been grossly involved in raiding various shops producing these materials and it has been dubbed illegal for anyone to wear the ‘red beret’ as it is attached to the UPDF.

Earlier on, the first ferry arrived in Kalangala with about 12 trucks while the second 11 am ferry came with another 4 truckloads of police officers. There was drama when the police officers got stranded at Bugoma (Luku) landing site after when Kyagulanyi rode away in one of his speedboats.

Police in a social media statement denied reports of Kyagulanyi’s arrest instead saying he’d only been restrained. “Please disregard false claims by NUP and other social media platforms that Hon. Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert has been arrested, while on his campaign trail in Kalangala district.

We would like to clarify that the candidate was restrained for continuously holding massive rallies amidst the increased threats of coronavirus, in total disregard of the Electoral Commission and ministry of Health guidelines.

He’s being transferred to his home in Magere, Kampala.” The police spokesPerson Fred Enanga said.

Kyagulanyi was expected to campaign in Kyamuswa county areas including Kachanga-Kacungwa in Mazinga sub-county, Kisaba, Namisoke and Misonzi and Kalangala town council at Kaala playground.

However, he was blocked by the army and police from proceeding to the campaign venues. Following Kyagulanyi’s arrest, protests broke out on the island and police fired teargas to disperse angry supporters forcing traders to close their shops.

Richard Katumba, the NUP spokesperson in Kalangala says that police has not informed them why their supporters were arrested.