Ugandan pop-star turned parliamentarian, Bobi Wine was “violently re-arrested” by authorities as he attempted to leave the country on Thursday, his attorney Nicholas Opiyo said.
The Uganda Police have violently blocked Hon Bobi Wine from traveling outside of the country in spite of the court declining to do so when being released on bail earlier in the week. This is absurd to say the least. #FreeBobiWine
— Nicholas Opiyo (@nickopiyo) August 30, 2018
The police have violently abducted Bobi Wine from the airport, forced him into a police ambulance and is being driven to unknown destination.
— Nicholas Opiyo (@nickopiyo) August 30, 2018
According to CNN, Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, was first arrested by the Ugandan military on August 15th after a riot erupted between supporters of two political parties ahead of a parliamentary election.
Wine was freed on bail on Monday after weeks of legal wrangling and was on his way out of the country to seek medical care in the U.S. for injuries sustained during detention when he was re-arrested, CNN reported.
Wine is a key figure in a youth movement that has undermined support for Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and has used his music as a means of spreading his political message. He was elected as an MP in 2017 as an opposition party candidate.
His detention earlier this month led to widespread protests around Uganda and prompted a significant military presence in the capital, according to media reports.
International artists, including Chris Martin, Angelique Kidjo, and Damon Albarn have lent their support to Wine, joining a social media campaign to #FreeBobiWine.