Violent clashes between protesters and police took place on Wednesday, November 18, in Kampala, the Ugandan capital. The police report shows 3 dead and 34 injured. These protests erupted after another arrest by Bobi Wine. The 38-year-old singer, elected Member of Parliament in 2017, is President Yoweri Museveni’s main opponent in the presidential election on January 14, 2021.
According to the police, Bobi vin arrested for “constantly violating the election guidelines of Covid-19 by holding meetings of more than 200 people, the regulatory figure per campaign meeting”.
The news then arouses the anger of his followers. On the streets of Kampala, young people burn tires and throw stones. The conflicts with the police last for several hours. The Red Cross claims that they have been shot, people are unconscious and have shown symptoms of suffocation. According to the police, conflicts are also going on outside the capital in four other places in the country.
Our teams that support people affected by fighting and chaos around Kampala today. A number of referrals to different hospitals. We have ambulances and first aiders deployed to save lives. @IFRCAfrica @ifrc pic.twitter.com/hms3G4PU0y
– Uganda Red Cross Soc (@UgandaRedCross) November 18, 2020 Another candidate arrested in Gulu
In Nordà Gulu, another presidential candidate, Patrick Oboi Amuriat, was also arrested for planning an unauthorized march.
Bobi Wine has already been arrested several times since 2018, for example at the beginning of the month, officially to plan an illegal gathering. It was shortly after submitting his presidential candidacy. Ten other candidates are running, including President Yoweri Museveni, who is running for a sixth term.
For his part, UN Spokesman Stéphane Dujarric called on Ugandan state institutions, in particular the police, to act with respect for human rights and the rule of law.
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