Ugandan opposition leader and former presidential candidate Bobi Wine announced on Thursday that his residence was encircled by police, placing him “under house arrest,” as the opposition prepared for demonstrations to be held later that day. Wine relayed the developments on the social media platform x, formerly branded as Twitter, that law enforcement and military were obstructing exits from his residence in Magere, a locality unaffected by the unrest unfolding in Kampala, the capital of Uganda. “The cowardly military & police have surrounded our home, but the protest is on,” shared Wine.
The planned protests, organized by leaders of the National Unity Platform party—the primary opposition group in Uganda—express dissatisfaction with the deplorable condition of the country’s thoroughfares. Wine, who first achieved notoriety as an entertainer, joined the world of politics in April 2017 when he announced his candidacy for parliament in the Kyadondo County East constituency. He also contended in the 2021 general election, joining the National Unity Platform party, but officially lost the race to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. Wine contends that the election result was fraudulent.
Regrettably, it’s not the first instance of Wine being detained in his home by Ugandan authorities. In December 2021, his home was surrounded by police and military officers, who installed roadblocks to prevent Wine from leaving his home and attending campaign meetings for his party’s candidate in the Kayunga district chairperson by-election.
Aside from Wine, former presidential candidate and member of the Forum for Democratic Change opposition party, Kizza Besigye, was also reportedly barred from vacating his house on Thursday. Patrick Onyango, a spokesperson for the Kampala Metropolitan Police, confirmed the “security deployment” outside both politicians’ homes.“We have taken some measures to stop them from instigating some people to hold unlawful assemblies and political demonstrations”, Onyango told AFP news agency.
Notwithstanding the imposed arrest of Wine and Besigye, the protests carried on. Wine released footage showing supporters protesting and went on to make further requests for action on the decaying roads: “Wherever you see a pothole, plant there a banana stem, yams, or anything else you can! Fix. Our. Roads!”
For further information, please refer to the original report in the JURIST – News.