Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine said Thursday he was under house arrest after being seized by security officials on his return home from a trip abroad.
Bobi Wine, also known as Robert Kyagulanyi, said they took him without permission, and now he’s stuck at his house. There are soldiers and police officers everywhere. They grabbed him as soon as he got off the plane, twisted his arms, and forced him into a private car. They drove him to the old airport, where they moved him to a military vehicle with many soldiers and police officers.
He felt very embarrassed. He mentioned that around 300 of his supporters were also taken, but he didn’t provide details. It wasn’t possible for AFP to confirm this information.
The police disagreed with Wine’s statement. They said they didn’t arrest him, but rather, they “escorted” him from Entebbe International Airport to his home in Magere. This was announced by the Uganda Police Force on X, which used to be called Twitter.
He got back to his house at about 11:20 in the morning and is now with his family and friends. Don’t believe false stories about him being arrested spread by people trying to spread untrue information.
There’s a video shared by Wine’s National Unity Platform (NUP) that shows security agents grabbing him right after he got off the plane. A man kept asking over and over again, “Where are you taking him, where are you taking him.
Wine’s supporters had planned to accompany him en masse to his home, but police had said such a gathering was illegal.
Rallies banned
In Uganda, it’s common for authorities to detain opposition leaders as a way to prevent them from organizing protests. They usually keep them for a few hours before letting them go back home, hoping to stop large demonstrations.
Just last month, the police in Uganda said they were stopping rallies by the National Unity Platform all over the country because they were concerned about public safety.
In 2021, Wine tried to become president, but he didn’t succeed. The election was tense, and Museveni, who’s been in charge of Uganda since 1986, won. The campaign was tough on the opposition, and sadly, at least 54 people lost their lives during protests against the government.
Wine came back from South Africa through the Rwandan capital Kigali. He was on a tour to promote a documentary about him called “Bobi Wine: The People’s President” by National Geographic TV.
Many of his supporters were really looking forward to his return. They see him as a sign of hope for change in a country that’s been under the control of one leader for a very long time.
Soldiers and other security forces in Uganda were stationed on the roads to Entebbe airport, near NUP offices, and in Kampala’s main business area since early Thursday morning.
The police warned the organizers not to proceed with the planned event and advised people not to join, calling it illegal.
Museveni, who was once praised for promoting good governance, has now suppressed opposition and changed the rules to keep running for office repeatedly.
The next presidential election is scheduled for 2026. Museveni, who is 79 years old, hasn’t said yet if he will run again.
SOURCE:FRANCE24