Robert Kyagulanyi, the Ugandan parliamentarian also known as Bobi Wine, has been charged with treason after a military court on Thursday withdrew a weapons charge against him but ruled that he should be tried for treason instead.
The musician, was then re-arrested and charged in a civilian court. He sat in the dock during proceedings as his lawyers argued he was too weak to stand.
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A very weak Kyagulanyi, wearing a Ugandan flag scarf around his neck, was seen walking out of court while being assisted on crutches during a brief adjournment on Thursday morning.
He has been in detention since August 15 and needs urgent medical care, his lawyers argued. According to the lawyers, the Kyadondo East MP needs immediate medical attention.
“He could not stand because his leg had been injured. He was being carried by soldiers at the military court where he has been arraigned when I saw him. He complained of pain in his spine, and we could see he has really been beaten,” Erias Lukwago said.
The judge said that the court is the custodian of justice and can’t stand back as this happens to Bobi Wine. He then rules that he can see his private doctors during his time of detention.
Museveni took to social media last week to dismiss allegations that the MPs were tortured in detention.
He said in a statement that doctors who examined the lawmaker said he had sustained “no head or chest injuries or bone fractures.”
Bobi Wine’s detention sparked mass protests in the country, leading to a large military presence on the streets of Uganda. Museveni accused parliamentarian and his supporters of intimidating voters and rigging the election in the district of Arua.
One person died after a police officer fired on a minibus. Five others were injured during the shooting, police spokesman Emillian Kayima said.
There have been large-scale demonstrations online and on the streets of Uganda to release Kyagulanyi, and musicians around the world such as Chris Martin, Angelique Kidjo, Damon Albarn and others have joined the campaign.
International Musicians Chris Martin, Angelique Kidjo and Damon Albarn have joined the campaign to free musician cum politician (Image Credit: Firenewsfeed)
