Ugandan Afro-Beat Musician Turned MP Rejects $8,000 Bribe

Ugandan Afrobeats star turned politician Bobi Wine is the latest opposition figure to return $8,000 (£6,100) – a sum given to all 429 MPs to help them to consult their constituents on the controversial age-limit bill.

The bill is a push by the governing NRM party to scrap the upper presidential age limit, which currently stands at 75.

It is seen as part of a plan to allow President Yoweri Museveni, 73, to run for a sixth term of office in 2021.

Wine said in a Facebook post that he had instructed his bank to “return this money to its sender.”

He shared the letter on Twitter:

Here is my official statement on the bribe deposited on my account.https://t.co/dRMMTPI89L pic.twitter.com/TgwxNFNaPJ

— BOBI WINE (@HEBobiwine) October 27, 2017

He said that the money was being spent “on a matter that does not need any consultation whatsoever.”

He added that it was “unfortunate” that the money was being given to lawmakers when “state prosecutors, judicial officers, doctors, teachers and other public officers are on strike or threatening to strike over poor working conditions”.

We reported on Wednesday that eight opposition MPs had returned the money.