Tensions are high at the home of National Unity Platform (NUP) Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine’s home in Magere after security operatives allegedly brutalising and arresting lawyer Kakuru Tumusiime as party leaders and lawyers attempted to visit Bobi wine’s wife, Barbie Kyagulanyi at the home on Monday.
According to the head of the NUP legal team Elotu Jonathan, the lawyer’s were brutalised by masked police officers before bundling kakuru into one of the police pickup trucks.
“I have been manhandled by a police officer at Magere whose faces were covered and name tags removed. Kakuru Tumusiime has been arrested. He was beaten up before being thrown into a pickup. We are lawyers, we had come to visit our client at Magere” Elotu posted on his X handle.
The Deputy Party President of NUP Eastern Region John Baptist Nambeshe,that led the group while addressing media after the incident said they had gone to pay a courtesy call on the home since no one was aware of what was happening to the occupants in the besieged home for a long time.
“We don’t know whether even they have food, besides that, I had come with a team of lawyers who were delivering forms from court for the family members to sign” he said.
Nambeshe noted that detained lawyer kakuru was beaten, roughed up by the security personnel’s and taken to an unknown place.
“One of our lawyers, Kakuru was wrapped up, pounded and thrown on the police pickup. As we talk, he’s still under their detention, we had demanded to know where they are taking him to the police station so that an under normal procedure would have to apply for his bail but as we talk up to now, the police are so unproductive” he said.
Human Rights lawyer Eron Kiiza who was part of the group said the security operatives blocked them from accessing Bobi Wine’s home, demanding a written permission from police headquarters permitting them to enter the home.
“We called the IGP (Abas Byakagaba) who advised speaking to Nambeshe that the police at Magere follow the chain of command showing police is also being ordered. We demand that police immediately release Counsel Kakuru, stop the illegal blockade at the BOBI’s residence and allow lawyers, friends and family to access Barbie Itungo Kyagulanyi and others illegally detained at Magere” he posted.
In January, Bobi Wine, who is currently in hiding slammed the Uganda Police force and the Inter religious council over their “silence” on followed military raids on his home in Magere, Wakiso District.
By the time of this publication, the police was yet to issue a statement on the incident.
