Musician turned politician, Bobi Wine has finally spoken out on Police barring him from holding any concerts.
This after Police denied him clearance to hold a show in Mukono. According to a police letter addressed to the promoter of the show, the show can not take place as scheduled because the singer incited the public at his most recent concert and is now under investigation.
While performing at the Busabala Fest that was held at One Love Beach on Sunday, Bobi Wine fired up crowds with his politically charged performance. This after he changed lyrics in some of his songs to hit out on the current political situation.
This is what he had to say about Police blocking his shows:
“Throughout history, when dictatorships realize that the people have resoundingly rejected them, they resort to all forms of unreasonable and autocratic laws to silence dissent. So far they have cancelled three of my shows one in Kasese, another in Kamuli and now in Mukono. For the past two shows we had obtained all the clearances, only to be told on last minute that I would not be allowed to perform in the fear that I would utter some ‘political statements’!
Now, I was planning another music concert in Mukono on 21st October, and the Kampala Metropolitan Police Commander, one Frank Mwesigwa illegally denied us permission to proceed with the concert. Reason? That I uttered inciting statements to the public at Busabala! Last evening I received a letter summoning me to Kibuli Police today to record a statement in respect to these same trumped up charges.
While at One Love Beach Busabala last Sunday, people in their thousands turned up and we had fun all night. During my performance, as always WE THE PEOPLE took off some time to talk about the future of our country in word and song. Although I had been ‘warned’ by some unpatriotic elements within the police not to talk about the constitution during the show, I could not accept self-censorship in order to please some anti-people elements!
The regime now wants to write for me lyrics for what I sing. What a shame!
As they listened to music and danced the night away, the throngs of people- young and old, consciously made it clear that they want a better Uganda, and that to achieve that, dictatorship and life presidency must be resisted and rejected.
Let me say this to my music fans and all Ugandans- We are on the right side of the law and most importantly, we are on the right side of history. As everyone knows, this is not prosecution. It is simply persecution. To them, I must sing in support of the dictatorship or not be allowed to sing. In fact, I have always been approached by some of these people with requests that I sing in support of the dictatorship or at least keep quiet. Several offers have been made to turn me into one of their puppets. But I rejected them flat. They told me recently that they will block my shows and frustrate my businesses until I run broke. Too bad for them, they have been made to believe that money is everything. They wrongly think that by stopping my shows they impoverish me, break my firmness and compromise my values.
I have said this to them in private and I repeat it in public- I Kyagulanyi Ssentamu – Bobi Wine, shall never sell my soul to the devil. I shall never use my voice to sing for a dictatorship that is running our country to hell. I shall never sing to console the enemies of the people. I shall never use my voice to betray my country. And yes, I shall always sing about the plight of our people. Their voice shall be my voice. I shall always sing for a better Uganda, because friends, this is the only home we have- whatever is still left of it, we are Ugandans.
You notice that when some of my colleague artists sing political songs in support of the regime- the real inciting songs because they get most people angry, the police doesn’t come out to stop them. In fact, they are given police protection! You can perform ‘tubonga naawe’ anywhere, anyday without restriction. But the dictatorship gets worked up over any song which exposes their evil. The regime can’t take it any longer. They call it incitement, hateful! They forget that they are already exposed and such acts work to expose them more.”
Staff Writer