Summary:
- Bobi Wine from the National Unity Platform (NUP) has arrived in London after the UK lifted a decade-long travel ban, allowing him to launch diaspora mobilization tours and promote his film addressing election fraud in Uganda.
Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine from the National Unity Platform (NUP), has recently arrived in London, United Kingdom, following the official lifting of the travel ban imposed on him by the western country.
In a Wednesday night tweet, Bobi expressed, “London, it’s been 10 long years.”
The travel ban, in place for over a decade, was lifted by London, paving the way for Bobi Wine’s visit to launch diaspora mobilization tours in the UK.
Initially excluded by the UK’s Home Office in 2014 due to anti-gay lyrics advocating for violence, where he urged the public to “shoot all the battymen,” Bobi faced opposition from human rights activists who pressured the Home Office to prevent his performance at the Troxy Arena in the UK.
Since then, the Home Office has kept Bobi away from England.
Bobi Wine engaged with British diplomats, international lawyers, and activists in discussions held at his home in Magere. NUP’s legal chief, Benjamin Katana, confirmed to ChimpReports, “It’s true the travel ban on Bobi Wine has been lifted. Bobi has also been issued a visa to travel to the UK.”
International lawyers argued that Bobi had apologized for his anti-gay lyrics and had spent years advocating for LGBTQ rights, making a case for his entry into the UK.
The Telegraph reported that veteran gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell and other organizations publicly supported Bobi Wine, calling for his admission into the UK. Bobi’s purpose in the UK is to promote a new film, “Bobi Wine: Ghetto President,” directed by British filmmaker Christopher Sharp. The film, set to release in November 2023, focuses on alleged widespread election fraud in Uganda.
Bobi Wine, however, missed the film’s premiere in August, with his lawyers citing the Home Office’s lack of response to their application for entry.
While the power to exclude a foreign national rests with the Home Secretary, periodic reviews of such decisions are expected.
