Kampala — LOCAL musician Ssentamu Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, was yesterday charged with erecting a building without permission from the Kampala City Council (KCC) and "causing a nuisance" for blocking access to a nearby property.

Wine and his co-accused, Fred Nyanzi, appeared before the KCC court magistrate, Richard Ndagwa.

Dressed in a black sweater and jeans, the artiste, who fondly refers to himself as the "president of the ghetto republic", denied the charges.

The two are accused of having placed two containers in front of a property in Kamwokya suburb, blocking easy entry to the premises and inconveniencing the owners.

In addition, they are accused of having constructed a boundary wall in the area in January without KCC approval.

The defence lawyer, Isaac Lubogo, described the charges as "concocted" and meant to "demoralise" his client.

Wine's wife, Barbie Itungo, and Lawrence Lubega of Fire Base Crew, Wine's music recording and promoting company, stood surety for him.

The two were bonded at sh300,000 not cash and released on a non-cash bail of sh1m.

Hearing of the case was set for June 8 after the musician told the court that he had an upcoming musical tour in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The magistrate advised him to comply with city authorities to avoid inconvenience.

"Deep down your heart, if you know you placed these items there without the city authorities' permission, remove them before we proceed," he implored.

"But if you are a great guy as you state in your songs, then we shall proceed. You risk being arrested at a concert or as you leave for a tour."

Wine later told The New Vision that he flew in from Nairobi, Kenya, on Tuesday after receiving news of the summons.

He dismissed the charges, saying they were orchestrated by his enemies. He argued that the structure he allegedly erected without permission was there before he was born.

His troubles, he said, started when he sued the city authorities for sh600m over criminal trespass and malicious damage after law enforcers seized his container with electronic merchandise.

The charge of blocking somebody's premises, according to Wine, arose after the owners failed to sell their land because there was no access to the main road.

"If they say that I am a nuisance, to the rest of Ugandans I am not. They will pay for all the time I am wasting here."

He later pulled out a guitar and started strumming as he mumbled a tune before signing the bond documents.

Wine is famous for songs like Mazzi Mawanvu, Abalungi Balumya and Taata wa'baana yaani, a duet with Julianna Kanyomozi.