Kyagulanyi has had his shows in Mukono, Kasese and Kamuli summarily blocked by police, prompting him to file a court suit against the force saying stopping him from singing was denying him his source of livelihood.
“Singing has been my job for ages from which I derive my livelihood, that of my family and very many of my dependants. My shows are also a source of enjoyment and pleasure to millions of Ugandans,” he said.
The police say when they allowed him to sing at his Busabaala One Love beach, he uttered political statements.
Appearing on NBS TV’s morning programme, Kampala Metropolitan police commander Frank Mwesigwa, said: “Music is not supposed to be partisan. One can’t use music to push their political ambitions.”
But MP Kyagulanyi hit back: “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 don’t come out to stop them. In fact, they are given police protection! You can perform ‘Tubonga Naawe’ anywhere, any day without restriction.”
Tubonga Naawe was sung by a group of muscians led by Moses Ssali (Bebe Cool) in support of President Museveni’s candidature in the 2016 polls.
“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,” Bobi Wine wrote.
“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.”
amwesigwa@observer.ug