Ugandan police cancel Bobi Wine concert

Addressing the media on 20 November, Emilian Kayima, the police spokesman, stated that the concert was cancelled as the organisers hadn’t informed the police to ensure that no criminal incidents occur during the show. “Bobi Wine wanted to have a procession with his enthusiastic fans yet there was no sufficient contingent plan to secure the event which could have probably attracted criminal elements,” Kayima said.

The spokesman further added that the police and Wine had peaceful talks before the artist left for Kampala. However, taking to social media, Wine’s opinion of the exchange differed. On his Facebook page, he addressed the injustice meted on him by the police, even though he has worked hard to uplift the Ugandan entertainment industry as an artist. He also mentioned that, so far, the government had cancelled at least 10 of his shows. “An artist must enjoy his or her right to compose music and perform it as long as it does not violate the law. Expression is not a crime, it is a right…I also appeal to the leadership of our professional body, the Uganda Performing Rights Society to come out boldly and ensure that music is not criminalised,” he wrote.

The artist, who has been struggling to get concerts since becoming a member of parliament in June, blames the Ugandan Police Force that’s banned some of his shows in Kamuli, Busoga and Kasese districts.