Ugandan musician and politician, Bobi Wine was held and interrogated by Dubai airport security for 12 hours before being released and a schedule charity concert that he and his team had travelled for being canceled. On Saturday morning the administrator tweeted on behalf of the National Unity Platform’s president lamenting his ordeal with Dubai airport security.
“Landed in Dubai at 8:30pm. It’s now 5am. I’ve been held and interogated for 8 hours. They asked me about NUP, its leaders. their phone numbers, my family members and their contacts! I have all necessary travel documents. They’ve confisticated my passport and my phone. Am literally under arrest” said the tweet.
Bobi Wine and his team had a scheduled concert in Dubai which was aimed at raising awareness and assisting Ugandan and African immigrant workers, it is said. Uganda exports labor to Dubai whos majority earn a living working as maids, security guards and cleaners in the Arab country.
“Unfortunately our charity concert has been cancelled! The venue owner has been instructed to cancel. 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!” fumed Mr. Wine on Twitter.
It is reported that the reggae, dancehall and afrobeat artiste was detained last year in Qatar for marijuana trafficking, and he also has a record of not appearing at shows after receiving booking fees.
However, some believe that his arrest and subsequent cancellation of his concert was politically motivated due to the nature of questions the NUP leader was asked by Dubai security officials.
