Ugandan police have reported that at least three people have died and 38 have been injured after protests erupted in Uganda following the arrest of an opposition presidential candidate, Bobi Wine.
Supporters of Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, blocked roads and burned tyres in the Uganda capital Kampala, while police responded by firing tear gas and rubber bullets.
Irene Nakasiita, Uganda Red Cross spokeswoman, describes scenes of “panic”, while Evarest Kayongo, chairman of the Kampala City Traders Association, said it was “total chaos” in the city.
“The streets are empty … We have closed business because of tear gas and bullets,” he said.
Rosebell Kagumire, editor of digital platform African Feminism, said tear gas and bullets could be heard in different parts of Kampala throughout the day, but things had calmed down.
“It wasn’t just in the middle of the city but different neighbourhoods [too],” Kagumire told reporters. “But also, outside of Kampala different towns were also engulfed in some level of protest calling for the release of Bobi Wine.
“Things are tense. People are worried and we don’t know what’s coming next.”
The protests begun after the Twitter account of Bobi Wine, a musician turned opposition leader, said police had violently broken into his vehicle and taken him into custody.
“The price of freedom is high but we shall certainly overcome,” said one of the tweets.
Police spokesman, Fred Enanga said Bobi Wine was arrested for violating COVID-19 guidelines that require presidential candidates to meet or address less than 200 people.
Joel Ssenyonyi, spokesman for Mr Wine’s political party, the National Unity Platform, revealed, “We have not been allowed to see him and we don’t know what is happening.”
Bobi Wine, the politician who is also a pop star, is campaigning to unseat President Yoweri Museveni, 76, who has been in office for 36 years, in next year’s election.
Since expressing his intention to run in the election against long-ruling 76-year-old President Mr Museveni, 38-year-old Bobi Wine has been arrested multiple times, including after he formally declared his candidacy.
He has won a large following, especially among young people in the East African country, where general elections are scheduled in January 2021 and has made persistent calls for Mr Museveni to retire.
Many young supporters say they are drawn to Bobi Wine by his criticism of Museveni’s government mingled in his lyrics.
The editor of African Feminism, Kagumire intimated that the “demographic shifts are not in favour of President Museveni. Personally, I haven’t seen any other president.
“People are looking for at least a shot in the election. But the election ground is very unlevel. If President Museveni is campaigning with over 200 people, there is nothing wrong. But if an opposition figure goes with many supporters, he is arrested.”
President Museveni, who has been in power since 1986 has had the constitution amended twice to allow him to run a sixth time in 2021 and is seeking another five-year term in the January polls.
