A charity concert that Ugandan pop star and National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine had organized in Dubai has been cancelled, the singer and politician has confirmed.
After reports that many Ugandans were sleeping on the streets of Dubai, Bobi Wine announced a concert to raise funds to help fly back the stranded people into Uganda.
Due to high levels of unemployment in the country, Uganda sends thousands of her youth to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and other Middle East nations for casual labour such as working as house maids.
But a number of people who travel to these Middle East countries have been complaining of suffering, exploitation and inhumane treatment at the hands of their bosses.
Thousands who have been trafficked into the Middle East are said to be the major victims of poor working conditions, organ harvesting and exploitation, which sometimes lead to death.
But even some of those who have gone through labour export companies registered and licensed by Uganda’s Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MoGLSD) have reportedly been subjected to hard working conditions.
Weeks ago, authorities in Dubai sought to repatriate thousands of illegal immigrants who included hundreds of men and women trafficked from Uganda. There were reports that some of these whose time in Dubai had come to an end were sleeping on the streets.
It was against this background that Bobi Wine announced that he would hold a concert in Dubai to raise funds to help these stranded Ugandans return home.
All was going according to plan until the night of Friday, October 07, 2022 when Bobi Wine and his crew arrived in Dubai only for the NUP boss to be ‘arrested’ for about 12 hours before being allowed to proceed.
Bobi Wine has revealed shocking reasons why Dubai authorities ‘arrested and grilled’ him for 12 hours. (Read Details Here).
Now, hours after he was allowed into Dubai, Bobi Wine has confirmed that authorities in the capital of the Emirate of Dubai have ordered the event’s venue owner to cancel the concert.
“Unfortunately our Charity Concert in Dubai has been cancelled! The venue owner has been instructed to cancel,” said Bobi Wine.
The former presidential candidate blamed the cancellation of his concert on President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni’s government. The Ugandan state has in recent years blocked the singer and politician from holding concerts within the country.
“The information available shows Ugandan authorities have been working tooth and nail to ensure it doesn’t happen! The first attempt was to deny me entry, and now this!” he said.
Meanwhile, Dubai has set tough conditions for Ugandans who want to go there on Kyeyo. For example, these must have a little over Shs5m on their bank accounts. (Read Story Here).
Bobi Wine came second to Museveni in the 2021 presidential election. A few days ago, Museveni’s son Gen Muhoozi made it clear to Bobi Wine that he will never be allowed to become Uganda’s President. (Read Story Here).
