Uganda: Bobi Wine faces new treason charges

The new charges were read by magistrate Yunus Ndiwalana, who also ordered that the Kyadondo East MP be allowed to seek private medical care under the watch of the prison authority.

“Honourable Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine and others still at large, on 13 August 2018 at Arua Municipality and other places within Uganda, are charged with the intent to do harm to the president of the republic of Uganda," Ndiwalana said. "They unlawfully aimed and threw stones, smashing the rear windscreen of the presidential car.

“This court as a custodian of justice cannot sit back as the health of the accused deteriorates. You are, however, remanded to Gulu Main Prison until the 30th of this month. I order that the accused be allowed access to medical doctors or be taken to the necessary facilities."

Yesterday morning, the general court martial through its chairperson Gen Andrew Gutti said the military court had no jurisdiction to hear the case because the state had taken the reins to charge the singer.

"This court having received an application from the council for the state to the effect that the accused person is required at the magistrate court to be tried with other accused persons who are not in this court, the defence lawyers agree that the proceedings before this court be terminated but submitted that the accused be set free,” Gutti said.

The opposition politico was shortly thereafter rearrested as he was leaving the military court. He was then taken to the Gulu Chief Magistrate's Court.

Bobi Wine was arrested 10 days ago and charged before a court martial in Gulu after President Yoweri Museveni's convoy was pelted with stones in Arua during a by-election campaign. The opposition candidate Kassiano Wadri and 29 others are also in custody over the incident.

Bobi Wine's arrest has drawn widespread condemnation from various embassies, public figures and civil rights groups, with reports this week saying that the singer had been tortured at the hands of security personnel at the Makindye military police barracks where he was originally imprisoned.