Uganda, Kampala- The Kyandondo East Member of parliament, Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine has sued government and the Kampala Metropolitan Commander, Frank Mwesiwa for illegally stopping his music concerts in in Kamuli, Mukono, Kasese, and Busoga region.

The legislator filed his petition before Kampala High Court on Thursday morning through Human Rights Lawyer, Ladislaus Rwakafuuzi. He is seeking Shillings 300 million in compensation from government for the disruption of his music concerts.

“As an artist, singing has been my job for ages from, which I derive my livelihood, that of my family and very many of my dependents. My shows are also a source of enjoyment and pleasure to millions of Ugandans,” told reporters outside the Kampala High court building.

Adding that, “They should understand that some of us are not corrupt government officials like most of them. We sweat for our bread. I sing for my fans and my fans also support me. And someone thinks they will sit in their office and put an end to my singing career?”

According to Kyagulanyi, he wants court to declare that stopping his music concerts would violate many laws including his right to life and livelihood under Article 22 of the Constitution, his right to work under Article 40, his freedom to move freely throughout Uganda as guaranteed by Article 29(2) (a), his freedom of expression under Article 29, and his right to civic participation under Article 38.

“Denying multitudes of Ugandans the opportunity to attend my music concerts violates their freedom of association which is protected by Article 29(1) (e) of the Constitution. We want court to declare that NEVER AGAIN should police stop any one from enjoying their rights as guaranteed by the Constitution. I would also wish that Court orders these highhanded officials to individually compensate my promoters for the losses they have incurred due to the cancelled shows,” he said.

He said some people doubt whether his will get justice from court, since most of the institutions in the country are dead. “Yes our institutions are dead, but what gives me hope is that there are many good people everywhere in Uganda- these are our brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, sons, daughters and friends. You find them in the courts, in the police, in the UPDF, in the public service, in Parliament, everywhere. People who still have a conscience,” he said.

Adding that, “They are only unlucky to serve a ridiculously dead system. I am confident that justice shall prevail.” Kyagulanyi’s trouble started after he openly started campaigning against the proposed scrapping of article 102 (b) of the Ugandan constitution, which caps the president’s age at 75 years to pave way for the incumbent president, Yoweri Museveni to seek re-election in 2021 when he clocks the retirement age.

The Legal and Parliamentary affairs Committee is scheduled to start scrutinizing the Con­sti­tu­tion (Amend­ment) (No. 2) Bill, 2017, which seeks to scrap article 102 (b) from the constitution. The proposed amendment has drawn angry reactions from opposition and pro-democracy activists in Uganda. They see the move as an attempt to introduce life presidency.