The presidential candidate of the National Unity Platform (NUP) in Uganda’s January 14 election, Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has been arrested in the East African country’s capital, Kampala.
He had last week called on Ugandans to “rise up peacefully and unarmed” in protest against President Yoweri Museveni, who has ruled the East African country for nearly four decades.
He was arrested during the protest when he led members of parliament against the torture of his supporters, according to a tweet posted on Monday by the administrators of his verified Twitter handle.
Bobi Wine arrested as he led MPs and other leaders in a peaceful protest against the abduction, torture and murder of his supporters. The protest was taking place at City Square, Kampala.
~ ADMIN— BOBI WINE (@HEBobiwine) March 15, 2021
“Bobi Wine arrested as he led MPs and other leaders in a peaceful protest against the abduction, torture and murder of his supporters. The protest was taking place at City Square, Kampala. ~ ADMIN,” the tweet stated.
Museveni has been in power since 1986. The 76-year-old was declared winner of the January 14 election by the country’s constitutional court after polling almost 59% of the vote, with Bobi Wine trailing with about 35%.
He claimed the election was rigged and filed an appeal against the results. He later withdrew the petition, citing judges bias.
In a virtual address on Sunday, Bobi Wine called on his supporters to use peaceful means to protest against the election results – which he continues to claim were rigged, and to demand that security forces produce their missing colleagues.
His arrest from a campaign rally in November kicked off two days of protests during which over 50 peopled died.
