October 5, 2023: Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine was arrested on Thursday upon returning to the country from a trip abroad, his National Unity Platform (NUP) party said.
The singer-turned-politician arrived at Entebbe International Airport on Thursday morning after a tour in several countries, including South Africa.
“Bobi Wine has been arrested,” NUP spokesperson Joel Ssenyonyi told Reuters. “We are not sure where he has been taken.”
Police spokesperson Fred Enanga said that Wine was arrested for violating the Public Order Management Act by holding a public rally at the airport.
“He was taken to a police station where he is being questioned,” Enanga said.
Wine’s arrest comes at a time of heightened political tensions in Uganda. He was the main challenger to President Yoweri Museveni in the January 2021 presidential election, but the results were widely disputed and Wine accused the government of rigging the vote.
Wine has been arrested and detained on numerous occasions since the election, and his supporters have been targeted by security forces.
The NUP party has called for Wine’s immediate release and condemned the government for “persecution” of the opposition.
“This is a clear violation of his human rights and the rights of his supporters,” the party said in a statement.
The arrest of Bobi Wine is a major setback for the opposition in Uganda and raises concerns about the country’s deteriorating democracy
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