After court remanded former deputy RCC Anderson Burora, Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu aka Bobi Wine, the president of Uganda’s main opposition political party, the National Unity Platform (NUP), has urged regime defenders to quit the government of his opponent, Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni, describing it as a sinking boat.
Resident City Commissioners (RCCs) and Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) as well as their deputies and assistants represent the president in areas of their jurisdiction, mobilizing for the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party, monitoring the implementation of government programs.
On July 03, Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi remanded Burora to Luzira Prison on charges of hate speech and malicious information contrary to the Computer Misuse Act. Conviction on these charges attracts a seven-year jail term or a fine not exceeding seven hundred and fifty currency points – or both.
On hate speech, prosecution alleged that between March and June 2024 while in the areas of Kampala District or thereabout, Burora used a computer to share information meant to ridicule, degrade or demean and promote hostility against Anita Among, the Speaker of Parliament of Uganda. Burora shared the information in question via ‘Harder HB,’ his handle on microblogging site X, formerly Twitter.
For both counts, prosecutors did not give details on what statements constituted malicious information or promoted hate against the speaker, prompting Burora’s lawyers to label the charge sheet defective.
Hours after a chief magistrate sent Burora to prison on remand, Bobi Wine has spoken out. Noting that he believes that Burora got in trouble “for speaking out against Anita Among’s corruption” and that the charge sheet that formed the basis of his remanding was “an evidently defective,” Bobi Wine criticized the state for persecuting activists.
“I join other citizens of good conscience in condemning the witch-hunt and persecution of those who speak out against corruption and misrule — especially about Anita Among,” said Bobi Wine, commenting on Burora’s woes.
The NUP leader recalled how much Burora would defend the Museveni regime, lambasting the opposition and activists as if there was no tomorrow, while serving as deputy RCC for Nakawa and later Rubaga.
He said those still serving the Museveni regime should learn from what has happened to Burora can happen to whoever is in the president’s “sinking boat” and free themselves before it is late for themselves and their country.
“Burora’s current woes should send a clear message to all that there are no safe zones in a sinking boat! A while ago as Assistant Resident City Commissioner, he justified and defended many of the excesses of the regime and turned those of us trying to change things into a punching bag,” recalled Bobi Wine.
“Hopefully through this, Mr. Burora will agree with us that such blatant abuse of the law will only come to an end when Uganda frees itself from the Museveni regime!”
Burora’s troubles began following his criticism of the way Speaker Anita Among was running the institution of Parliament of Uganda, especially in light of allegations of grand corruption, abuse of office and diversion of funds at the legislative arm of government.
The speaker would meet the head of state over the matter. After a meeting between Speaker Anita Among and President Museveni, it emerged that the presidency had suspended Anderson Burora as deputy RCC and ordered him to apologize to the speaker for joining those accusing her of corruption in the online protest, Uganda Parliament Exhibition.
Anderson Burora made it clear that he would never apologize to Speaker Anita Among, not even on his grave. Burora also accused Speaker Anita Among of holding Museveni to ransom. (See Details Here and There).
In April 2024, Anderson Burora said his life was in danger, and that if he dies nobody should believe that it was an accident or a heart attack. (Read Story Here).
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