Several journalists and politicians were Wednesday  brutally clobbered by the police when they had escorted National Unity Platform (NUP) principal Robert Kyagukanyi aka Bobi Wine, who  had gone to petition the United Nations to intervene in Human Rights abuses in Uganda.

Bobi Wine had gone with his supporters and NUP elected legislators to the United Nations Human Rights Commission to petition them to get involved in the continued abductions and other forms of human rights abuses in Uganda.

Apart from Bobi Wine, Lewis Rubongoya and Masaka Municipality MP  Mathias Mpuuga, the police did not allow  the other people he had gone with, but instead descended on them with the military and clobbered them like cows.

However, following the brutality  that was unleashed unto journalists and several politicians, the police have since issued a statement to the effect that they had to intervene because Bobi Wine had broken the law by gathering a processions of people,  yet this was outlawed  by the COVID-19 presidential directives.

According to a statement released by the police the Kampala Metropolitan Police (KMP) spokesperson, Patrick Onyango, Bobi Wine was the root cause of all the trouble.

Onyango’s statement reads in part thus;

“The Police is investigating the unfortunate incident which saw people sustain injuries including journalists. Police has now opened an inquiry at Jinja Road Divisional Headquarters, to establish the circumstances under which the victims were injured. The findings will inform management on the next course of action.”

According to Police, Bobi Wine successfully submitted his petition to the United Nations Human Rights offices, located at Prince Charles Drive, Kololo in Kampala.

Police also disclosed that the petitioner was scheduled to appear with only three other members due to the anti-COVID-19 protocols but instead turned up with a huge procession of people.

“Bobi Wine however disregarded the guidelines and held an illegal procession and assembly involving boda-bodas, motor vehicles and supporters walking on foot,” Onyango said.

“Although we respect the rights of citizens to freely assemble and express themselves, the health and safety of all Ugandans and visitors, and rule of law remains our top priority,” the police spokesperson noted.

Onyango added as a reminder, that all unlawful rallies, assemblies and processions are still restricted under the health protocols in place.

He therefore revealed that due to the acts of overcrowding at the security perimeters near the UN offices, there was a great potential of breaching the security perimeter, which led to additional reinforcement that helped disperse the uncontrolled crowds.

By Baron Kironde