Activists demand release of Ugandan MP Bobi Wine

Leaders in Mombasa County have joined calls demanding the release of Ugandan MP Bobi Wine, arguing that his rights are being violated.

The activists who gathered at Haki Africa offices on Sunday sang freedom songs and displayed placards in solidarity with the Kyadondo East lawmaker, officially known as Robert Kyagulanyi.

Mombasa Senator Mohammed Faki said the rights of the musician-cum-politician should be safeguarded.

"East Africa Community should issue a statement immediately because they are signatories to all protocols to safeguard human rights. The Ugandan government should free Bobi Wine and accord him his constitutional rights," Mr Faki said.

DEMOCRACY

He added that dictatorship should be a thing of the past, urging the Kenyan government must intervene on Mr Kyagulanyi's behalf.

"We are urging the Kenyan government to take a stand. It is not enough to keep on massaging the ego of [President Yoweri] Museveni.... We have to condemn human rights abuses because it gives a bad name to East Africa and the world in general," he added.

Haki Africa Executive Director Hussein Khalid said human freedoms should be respected.

"Human rights violations anywhere in the world are a threat to human rights everywhere in the world. We cannot sit and watch our brothers in Uganda suffering. We want to tell the regime that it can’t stop an idea whose time has come," Mr Khalid said.

Mombasa Deputy Governor William Kingi said the East African Community should say no to injustices.

LEADERSHIP

Dr Kingi added that if Mr Kyagulanyi has transgressed he should be prosecuted through the proper legal channels.

Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir said he will mobilise all lawmakers to discuss the conduct of the Yoweri Museveni administration in regards to the handling of the MP.

"Our silence today will echo in eternity. Dictatorship is a dangerous trend and if not tamed it can seep into other African countries. We should not be a generation that will be judged harshly by future generations for keeping quiet while people are locked up for no reason," Mr Nassir said.

Stretchers Youth Organisation Dickson Okong’o said the youth are the future leaders, therefore they should be given space to lead.

"When we see young people like Bobi Wine being tortured and intimidated, we get very worried," Mr Okong’o said.