People protest over Kyandondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi’s detention, in Nairobi yesterday.

Kenya- Several groups took to the streets of Nairobi on Thursday to protest detention of MP Robert Kyagulanyi, more commonly as known Bobi Wine, by the Ugandan government.

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK), Amnesty International, Ugandans living in Kenya and student leaders gathered at the Freedom Corner in Nairobi and marched to the Ugandan embassy on Riverside Drive.

During the protest, the Ugandan MP who was facing charges of illegal arms possession charges, was freed by the military court in Gulu.
This prompted the protesters to change their chants from “Free Bobi Wine” to “Free Uganda”.

“President Museveni’s time is up. He is the last of Africa’s dictators and he must go. Bobi Wine is innocent, they are using him as a scapegoat. He is not just a person but an idea. He represents the 75 per cent of youth who make up the population of Africa,” activist Boniface Mwangi said during the protest.

Members of the LSK donned suits and red ribbons as a sign of solidarity with Uganda.

Kyagulanyi was re-arrested shortly after he was freed by the General Court Martial.

The visibly frail Kyagulanyi walked out of the court with difficulty and was re-arrested by police officers who were waiting outside.
He was later presented before Gulu Magistrate Court where he was charged with treason.

He was then remanded to Gulu Prison until August 30, when he will be returned to court with his co-accused.

The MP and his co-accused have been allowed to access medical attention in any private facility they wish but under the security of the prison authorities.

Earlier at the Court Martial, Mr Nicholas Opio, one of Kyagulanyis’ lawyers described the court appearance as a “charade intended to continue abusing” his client’s rights.

Timeline of bobi wine’s arrest

Aug 13

Final day for Arua Municipality parliamentary by-election campaigns. Top politicians including President Museveni, Dr Kizza Besigye and Robert Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine make last-minute efforts to win votes for their candidates. Chaos breaks out after the rear windscreen of one of the presidential convoy vehicles is smashed. MPs are arrested. Bobi Wine’s driver is shot dead at Pacific Hotel.

Aug 14
Security forces arrest Bobi Wine, take him to army barracks in Gulu.

Aug 15
Arua Municipality electorate go to the polls to elect a new MP. The Electoral Commission announces Mr Kassiano Wadri winner at around 10pm.

Aug 16

Bobi Wine is charged in the military court at the UPDF 4th Division headquarters in Gulu on counts of unlawful possession of firearms and 35 live ammunition. He is remanded to Makindye military prison and is subsequently flown to Kampala for detention. His fellow MPs and their co-accused are charged with treason.

Aug 19
President writes on his Facebook page that Bobi Wine is in good health, disputing media reports that he had been severely injured and was in pain. Lawyer Male Mabirizi petitions the Constitutional Court to declare the charging of Bobi Wine and other civilians before the military court as unconstitutional.

Aug 20

Riots break out in the capital Kampala and other towns in protest of Bobi Wine’s continued detention. Police arrest about 100 suspects in the riots.

Aug 21

Muslim leaders, during Idd prayers, condemn the brutality meted out on civilians and journalists by security officers during the protests