Since former ragga singer Bobi Wine rejected the results and called the election a “masquerade”, his house has been surrounded by law enforcement and his supporters appear to be paralyzed. Seized by his lawyers, Ugandan justice stepped up to the plate and ordered the armed forces on Monday to end the de facto house arrest of the opponent. Bobi Wine, the unsuccessful candidate in this election which marked the victory for a sixth term for outgoing President Yoweri Museveni, is in fact stranded in his residence on the outskirts of Kampala, the capital. Heavily armed soldiers and police surround the house and prevent its inhabitants, including the wife of ex-artist, Barbie Kyagulanyi, from leaving. Last week, the U.S. Ambassador to Uganda was barred from visiting Bobi Wine, who won around 35% of the presidential vote, according to official results. “These illegal actions and the de facto house arrest of a presidential candidate constitute a worrying trend for Ugandan democracy,” the embassy said.
Justice raises the tone
His real name Robert Kyagulanyi, this former artist turned politician is now considered the leader of the opposition. “The petitioner’s continued and indefinite (movement) restriction in his home is illegal and his right to liberty has been hampered,” Judge Michael Elubu, of the Civil Division of the Ugandan High Court of Justice, a tribunal said on Monday. from Kampala. “These restrictions being considered illegal, we order that they be lifted,” he added. The Ugandan government justified this house arrest by the need to ensure “the protection” of Bobi Wine and to avoid opposition demonstrations, the candidate having described the election as a “masquerade” and rejected his results.
Locked in his home, President Museveni’s young rival claims to have ample evidence of irregularities, but the internet suspension last week made publication difficult. Access to the network was partially restored on Monday, and videos showing ballot box stuffing and pre-filled ballots are starting to emerge on social media. “We are seriously examining these accusations and we will investigate to assess the veracity of these videos,” the electoral commission assured Thursday on Twitter.
Bobi Wine says he fears other measures
Bobi Wine denounced in a tweet early Monday afternoon the maintenance of armed forces in front of his house despite this decision. “The High Court ruled this morning that my extended house arrest (11 days now) is illegal and unconstitutional,” he wrote on Twitter. “Several hours later, the soldiers are still surrounding my house, blocking access to everyone! Perhaps (as always) they are awaiting orders from General Museveni on the way forward, ”he continues.
It has happened in the past that the armed forces have ignored judicial orders concerning the release of individuals, or have re-arrested people who had just been released. But in this case, time is running out. Indeed, there are only a few days left for Bobi Wine’s party, The Platform for National Unity, to lodge its appeal after the presidential results before the Supreme Court.
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