Singer-turned-politician, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine, claims authorities in Uganda are behind the cancelation of his charity concert in Dubai.
Bobi Wine, together with Nubian Li, were scheduled to hold two concerts today October 8 at Abu Hail Club Stadium in Dubai, and tomorrow October 9, 2022, in Abu Dhabi at Villagio Hotel and Resort, with an aim of raising money to return Ugandans stuck in Arab countries.
“Unfortunately our Charity Concert in Dubai has been cancelled. The venue owner has been instructed to cancel,” says Bobi Wine. “The information available shows Ugandan authorities have been working tooth and nail to ensure it doesn’t happen.”
Bobi Wine landed in Dubai at 8:30pm but authorities therein first objected to allow him in the country until about 12 hours later.
He claimed him and his team were “being interrogated mostly about NUP – the Political Party he leads in Uganda).”
“After 12 hrs,( 8:30pm to 9:30am) I’ve been finally allowed into Dubai. Hoping that our charity concert, which seemed to be the source of these issues, will be allowed to proceed. We’re only trying to raise awareness and assist the many Ugandan and African Immigrant workers,” Bobi Wine wrote on Twitter.
According to Bobi Wine, earlier efforts to deny him entry into Dubai were orchestrated by Ugandan authorities.
Recently, Kyadondo East member of Parliament and the shadow minister of Foreign Affairs, Muwada Nkunyingi, asked the government to find ways of repatriating Ugandans who are in detention in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Muwada said that close to 3,000 Ugandans have been detained in Al Awir Prison in the United Arab Emirates, with the majority of the detainees being girls.
He said that the majority of those in detention are facing charges of illegal stay since they entered the UAE on a visit visa.