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Bobi Wine, Ugandan opposition leader and former presidential candidate, alleged on Thursday that police had surrounded his home and placed him “under house arrest” ahead of a planned rally.
Opposition MPs planned demonstrations on Thursday over Uganda’s terrible road conditions, which will host two global summits this month.
Wine, a popstar-turned-politician, claimed that police and troops had prevented him from leaving his residence in Magere, north of the capital Kampala.
“Fix our roads! Free Political Prisoners! Free Uganda!”
Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, competed against veteran President Yoweri Museveni in Uganda’s 2021 election, demanding an end to his authoritarian rule.
Former presidential candidate Kizza Besigye of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change party stated on Thursday that he, too, had not been allowed to leave his home.
“Barricaded at home by the COWARDS! No turning back; we deserve better. Please do what you can, wherever you’re, with whatever you have, to show the terrible roads affecting you today,” he posted on X.
Thank you everyone who has heeded our call and protested against the criminal regime's luxurious lifestyle while citizens suffer with terrible roads. #FixOurRoads #FreeAllPoliticalPrisonersUganda #UnitedForcesOfChange pic.twitter.com/ca0MiyvFay
— BOBI WINE (@HEBobiwine) January 18, 2024
The opposition politicians are urging Ugandans to go ahead with the scheduled Thursday protest, demanding government action to improve deteriorating road conditions.
However, authorities have committed to put an end to the rallies, citing previous instances of disturbance linked to these lawmakers as well as the potential disruption of the upcoming Non-Aligned Movement meeting in Kampala, which is being attended by 4,000 delegates.
