Uganda’s primary opposition leader, Bobi Wine, was compelled by security agents to enter a vehicle and was subsequently transported to his residence on Thursday after arriving from an overseas journey, according to his party.
Wine, who is the most formidable political rival to long-serving President Yoweri Museveni, was guided away from the plane at Entebbe, with an associate shouting, “Where are you taking him?” This incident was captured in a video shared on social media by his party.
This action seemed to be aimed at preventing a public commotion, particularly after the police had announced on Wednesday that individuals gathering on the streets to greet Wine would face arrest.
According to police spokesperson Patrick Onyango, security forces escorted Wine to his residence in the town of Kasangati, located approximately 50 kilometers (30 miles) north of Entebbe and in close proximity to the capital city, Kampala.
Wine, a musician whose legal name is Robert Kyagulanyi, came in second to the 79-year-old Museveni in the 2021 election, which he claimed was tainted by fraudulent practices.
Museveni has held authority in the East African nation since 1986. Critics and human rights advocates have accused his government of suppressing the opposition, an allegation that Museveni refutes.
Later, Wine took to the messaging platform X to announce that both the military and police had cordoned off his residence, effectively placing him under house arrest.
Onyango clarified that Wine was not under house arrest, and the substantial security presence at his residence was for “general security” purposes.
Wine has been previously arrested on numerous occasions while spearheading protests that were quelled using tear gas, rubber bullets, and physical force.
During the unrest that flared up in November 2020 prior to the last presidential election, a minimum of 54 individuals lost their lives.
