Mombasa political leaders have come forth to address their grave concern on the ongoing human rights infringement in the neibouring country of Uganda.The leaders including the mombasa county deputy governor Dr. William Kingi, mombasa senator Mohamed Faki, Mvita area MP Abdulswammad Shariff Nassir among others joined huma rights activists in a protest to show solidarity with the people of Uganda and especially hon. Bobi Wine to push for his release.
In a joint statement by HAKI Africa, Social Justice Movement and Stretchers Youth that reads;
We the people of Mombasa, Nairobi and all other parts of Kenya are utterly disturbed by the state of affairs in Uganda and the current unrest reported in various towns in the country. Scenes from the media, where police have become a law unto themselves, beating and tear gassing citizens, are shocking and send chills down the spines of many. Innocent citizens being frog marched and some forced to lie down in the streets are not only unwarranted but also an outright violation of fundamental human rights. All these events are as a result of the continued detention of Hon. Robert Kyagulani Ssentamu aka “Bobi Wine” who was arrested a few days ago and is understood to be in deplorable health condition suffering serious injuries believed to have been inflicted through acts of torture by the police and/or army of the current regime.
Bobi Wine is currently under custody as well as his fellow Member of Parliament Hon. Francis Zaake and more than 30 others who were arrested in Arua. Reports are that Bobi Wine was illegally presented in the military courts contrary to the constitution and laws of Uganda which demand that civilians be tried in open courts. Upon release from the military courts, he was immediately re-arrested and is currently in police custody. Further, Bobi Wine’s right to medical care is being limited by his captors and he is believed to be suffering severe kidney failure which has put his life in serious danger. His right to legal aid is further being restricted as his lawyers are only allowed partial and controlled access to him. It is further reported that family and friends of Bobi Wine also do not have access to him and are denied to see him as is provided for the by the constitution of Uganda.
We hereby calls for the immediate release of Bobi Wine and all others under custody in the current unrest in Uganda. We stand firm to state that the Constitution of Uganda is sacred and all persons and institutions including the police must respect and adhere to it at all times. The country is going through difficult times and it is incumbent upon all Ugandans to demand that the rule of law prevails. As Kenyans organisation with Africa networks and partners including in Uganda, we stand firmly behind comrade Bobi Wine and call on the authorities to release and accord him his rights forthwith.
We reiterate that a violation of human rights anywhere in the world is a threat of violation of human rights everywhere in the world. We therefore call on all and sundry to stand firmly behind the rights of all in Uganda. Release Bobi Wine; Free Uganda; Viva Africa!
