Bobi Wine detained by police in Kampala

Leading Ugandan singer turned politician, Bobi Wine, has been arrested along with some of his supporters in the capital, Kampala, for trying to stage an assembly in an open area.

Police said they had previously granted him permission to meet in an enclosed area, with police commander Edson Muhangi saying “This one is not an enclosed place, we cannot even allow them to be here.

“We are reliably informed that their aim is to engage us so that they can be seen exchanging words, fighting with the police and tarnishing the image of Uganda”.

The activist, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, was attempting to hold a consultation with supporters in order to plan for his presidential run against the president, Yoweri Museveni in next year’s election.

Following the police intervention, The Daily Monitor newspaper reported a one-day old baby had been rushed to hospital and was in a critical condition after inhaling teargas used by police to disperse crowds.

Robert Ssempala, the head of Human Rights Network for Journalists – Uganda, told how told reporters had been detained for reporting on the confrontation, condemning the police response as “high-handed and unlawful”.

Photo credit: Reuters