The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | AFP | Explosive devices, thought to be grenades, were thrown early Tuesday at the homes of two prominent Ugandan MPs who have spoken out against plans to remove presidential age limits in the constitution.
Musician-turned-lawmaker Bobi Wine — real name Robert Kyagulanyi — and fellow opposition MP Allan Ssewanyana said grenades were thrown at their homes overnight.
Police are investigating the explosions but have not commented on the suspected causes.
“There were three explosives last night,” Wine said, pointing to the shattered glass in his son’s bedroom window.
Wine said this was the second such attack in recent days.
“Two days ago when the first two hand grenades were thrown I called the police but the police did not show up,” he said. “My family is living in fear.”
For the second time, last night explosives were again thrown at my residence and exploded! No one hurt but property damaged…
— BOBI WINE (@HEBobiwine) October 3, 2017
…I must tell the whole world that lately I’ve been receiving death threats almost on a daily basis…
— BOBI WINE (@HEBobiwine) October 3, 2017
“Similar blasts happened outside my house 3 days ago. Yesterday 3 explosive devices were thrown near my son’s bedroom” #NBSMorningBreeze pic.twitter.com/0K9s5x4Osj
— NBS Television (@nbstv) October 3, 2017
Hon. Allan Ssewanyana: There were two blasts at my home last night #NBSUpdates pic.twitter.com/hEJXV1gU9v
— NBS Television (@nbstv) October 3, 2017
.@HEBobiwine: I have reported earlier explosives to the police and registered my complaints but that’s all I can do #NBSMorningBreeze pic.twitter.com/N7l5sdisgh
— NBS Television (@nbstv) October 3, 2017
Ssewanyana said he was also attacked in the night.
“People have thrown a grenade at my home. I need rescue,” Ssewanyana said in a Facebook post in the early hours of Tuesday, alongside pictures of plastic and metal fragments.
Wine and Ssewanyana are among 24 MPs barred from parliament following angry brawls last week when a ruling party legislator proposed a bill removing constitutional age limits.
The current curbs would prevent President Yoweri Museveni, in charge for the last three decades, from running for a sixth consecutive term in 2021.
Museveni is aged 73, while the current law blocks candidates over 75.
#AgeLimitUg flash bang grenades at opp MPs’ residences could be own scare tactics to frame gov’t @UgandaMediaCent @nbstv @ntvuganda
— Ofwono Opondo P’Odel (@OfwonoOpondo) October 3, 2017
Flash bang grenades used for training purposes, not harmful. Some opp elements could have acquired them @UgandaMediaCent @nbstv @ntvuganda
— Ofwono Opondo P’Odel (@OfwonoOpondo) October 3, 2017
Opp MPs know they don’t have the numbers & logical arguments to stop #Age Limit, now using scarecrow tactics @UgandaMediaCent @nbstv
— Ofwono Opondo P’Odel (@OfwonoOpondo) October 3, 2017
Wine said that he has received death threats “on an almost daily basis” since he and other opposition MPs tried to block the move in parliament.
Outside of parliament, student protests have been met by soldiers, police, tear gas and rubber bullets.
Last week, another opposition MP, Moses Kasibante, claimed grenades has been thrown at his house, smashing windows in the explosion.
Kampala police spokesman Emilian Kayima said the “similar” incidents were being investigated with early indications that “factory-made hand grenades with less shattering effects” than military issue ones had been used.
A government spokesman, Ofwono Opondo, blamed the opposition for the explosions outside their own homes saying on Twitter they were caused by “flash bang grenades” and were intended as “scare tactics to frame [the government]”.
The controversial bill had its first reading in parliament on Tuesday in a session that was boycotted by opposition lawmakers.
It must be approved by two-thirds of the legislature in its second and third readings in order to be approved.
Ugandan government!!!!!