This archive report was first published on 10 October 2019.
On October 10, 2019, Ugandans celebrated 57 years of independence, but the festivities were marred by a cat and mouse chase involving Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, and the police in Kampala and its suburbs.
Police had laid siege at Bobi Wine's home in Magere, on the outskirts of the city, in an attempt to stop him from holding a music concert at his beach in Busabala on the shores of Lake Victoria. However, the concert had been cancelled by the police the previous day due to security reasons.
Despite the police presence, Bobi Wine managed to escape from his home and appeared in town at around 12pm on a boda boda, sparking spontaneous excitement among the crowd. He was clad in a white T-shirt, faded blue jeans, and white sneakers with a red beret on his head, and was riding towards the city centre.
Police tried to grab him from the motorcycle, but their efforts were unsuccessful. Boda boda riders joined the chase, shouting and singing freedom chants. The chase continued through the busy streets of Kampala, with police in hot pursuit.
At one point, Bobi Wine was cornered and forced to jump off the motorcycle. He ran into the New Taxi Park and exited at Park Nkadde Mall before jumping on a boda boda again amid public ululation and chants of his People Power slogans.
While the chase was underway, several people were arrested, including Ddembe and KFM reporter Shamim Nateebwa, who said she was still dragged to the police cells despite identifying herself as a journalist.
However, the downpour that followed derailed the chase, and police lost track of Bobi Wine. He reappeared in Kamwokya suburb, triggering a fresh chase by police who were joined by the military, Local Defence Unit operatives, and other security vigilantes.
Despite the efforts of the security personnel, Bobi Wine managed to evade capture and later came out of hiding to speak to journalists at his home in Magere. He said police should stop getting involved in issues between presidents.
