Uganda Opposition Leader Bobi Wine Allegedly Under House Arrest Over Planned Protest

Ugandan opposition leader and former presidential candidate Bobi Wine reported on Thursday that police had surrounded his residence, placing him “under house arrest” in anticipation of a scheduled protest.

The opposition had organised demonstrations for Thursday to protest the poor condition of roads in Uganda, coinciding with the country hosting two global summits in the upcoming days.

Bobi Wine, a former pop star turned politician, stated that police and soldiers prevented him from leaving his home in Magere, north of the capital Kampala.

“The cowardly military & police have surrounded our home and put us under house arrest, but the protest is on,” declared the National Unity Platform (NUP) leader.

“Fix our roads! Free Political Prisoners! Free Uganda!”

Bobi Wine, also known as Robert Kyagulanyi, contested the last presidential election in 2021 against veteran President Yoweri Museveni, advocating for an end to his long standing rule.

Another former presidential candidate, Kizza Besigye of the Forum for Democratic Change opposition party, shared on Thursday that he too was confined to his house.

“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,” Besigye posted.

A police spokesman confirmed the “security deployment” outside both residences.

“We have taken some measures to stop them from instigating some people to hold unlawful assemblies and political demonstrations,” explained Patrick Onyango, spokesman for Kampala Metropolitan Police.

“There is security deployment at Bobi Wine and Dr. Besigye’s homes not to arrest but as a preventive measure in line with police mandate.”

Opposition parties have accused the government of detaining homeless people and demolishing roadside kiosks as part of a clean-up drive ahead of the Non-Aligned Movement and G77+China summits in Kampala.