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Uganda Opposition Leader Bobi Wine Teargassed, Arrested

Halima Athumani

   KAMPALA - Ugandan musician and opposition legislator Robert Kyagulanyi,
   best known by his stage name Bobi Wine, was arrested Monday while
   holding a public meeting in preparation for his presidential campaign.

   The Uganda Electoral Commission gave Wine the go-ahead in December to
   hold such meetings. But police say Wine and his team did not meet some
   requirements of the Public Order Management Act.

   Wine and some followers had just arrived at the venue in the Wakiso
   district, north of Kampala, when police fired teargas and arrested the
   aspiring presidential candidate along with other members of his People
   Power movement.

   "Honorable Kyagulanyi is being held at Naggalama Police Station," said
   David Lubongoya, People Power executive secretary. "He was held at
   Kasangati earlier and there were protests by young people who were
   demanding his release and police took him out from there. Honorable
   Kyagulanyi is an aspiring candidate who is supposed to consult people.
   Once he is out of that place, we will continue with the consultations."

   In December, Wine wrote to Uganda's Electoral Commission, informing
   them of his intentions to hold meetings with the public, in preparation
   for the August presidential nominations.

   The Electoral Commission gave Wine a green light but with conditions,
   which included having closed venues for consultations, and warned
   against processions and public rallies.

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