UGANDA: WHY BOBI WINE'S BULLET PROOF CAR AND VEST ARE 'GOVERNMENT STORES'

 

By CHANGE OF GUARDS

During the recently concluded sham electoral process, the opposition NUP presidential candidate, Bobi Wine adopted the wearing of a bullet proof jacket and helmet after surviving repeated attempts to harm him by Museveni's security goons. He has now secured for himself a state of the art bullet proof Toyota Landcruiser V8.

Upon founding his People Power political platform, his movement adopted the red beret as its symbol. On September 18, 2019 Museveni banned its use by People Power activists. A notice in the Gazette read;

"It is prohibited to wear or use any decoration supplied or authorized for use by any member of the defense forces or any decoration so nearly resembling that decoration and likely to deceive the public."

After gazetting red as his army's dress code it was classified as a property of the state. In this regard, any unauthorized use of red was decreed to attract a sentence of life imprisonment upon conviction. The UPDF Act Section 119 (1) (h) stipulates that;

"Any person found in an unlawful possession of (1) arms, ammunition and equipment ordinarily being the monopoly of the Defense Forces; or (ii) other classified stores as prescribed, is subject to military law and can be tried in military courts as appropriate."

In Uganda, use of bullet proof vests and cars is known to be associated with the security forces. The practice is not associated with ordinary citizens and opposition political activists. It wouldn't be surprising if Museveni declares Bobi Wine's bullet proof items - the car, vest and helmet as equipment that are a monopoly of armed forces before confiscating them. In such a scenario, being a Musician, the only way out for Bobi Wine lies in S. 164 (2) of the UPDF Act that permits Artists to use the said equipment and items for bona fide stage, film or television production upon "proper authorisation from the army."

INFORMATION IS POWER AND THE PROBLEM OF UGANDA IS MUSEVENISM