A Ugandan court has ordered the military and police to leave the home of opposition politician Bobi Wine, it now remains to be seen if government officials would obey the courts this time.
He has not left his house in the outskirts of the capital Kampala since voting in the presidential election 11 days ago, in which he was declared runner-up to President Yoweri Museveni.
Monday’s ruling by the High Court in Kampala comes after a petition by Bobi Wine’s lawyers.
The state argued it needed to prevent him from organizing protests.
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But the High Court has now ruled that Bobi Wine’s detention was unlawful, with Justice Micheal Elubu telling the court it was also an ‘an infringement on his personal liberties’.
The court said if Bobi Wine had committed any offence, he should be taken to an authorized detention centre. The army said it would respect the ruling, but has yet to withdraw its troops or nearby roadblocks.
Dozens of people were killed during campaigning – many were shot by security forces.
Bobi Wine alleges that the election, in which he won 35% of the vote as National Unity Platform leader, was rigged.
Uganda’s Electoral Commission said the vote was peaceful, but the EU, United Nations, and several rights groups have raised concerns. Aside from an African Union mission, no major international group monitored the vote.
In a phone interview with the BBC World Service days after the poll, Bobi Wine, a popular singer, 38, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, said he was ‘worried about my life and the life of my wife’.
Heavily armed soldiers and police officers surrounding the property have blocked members of Wine’s household, including his wife, Barbie, from leaving their compound. Last week the US ambassador to Uganda was also blocked from visiting the pop star. Bobi has cried out on social media several times appealing to the soldiers to leave his home so they could access food and also provide care for the baby.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK