The death toll from two days of clashes in Uganda rose to 37 people, on Friday evening, in protest against arresting the folk singer and the presidential candidate Bobi Wine.
“The death toll is now 16, with 45 injuries, some serious injuries,” Kampala Uganda police chief Moses Kafeero told AFP on Thursday.
Kafeero stated that about 350 people were arrested due to acts of violence such as looting, destroying property, disrupting traffic, and armed robbery during the riots.
Kafeero affirmed that police in the capital, Kampala, fired tear gas and bullets to disperse Wine’s supporters, who have blocked roads and burned tires.
The Red Cross stated late Wednesday that it had treated more than 30 people following “scuffles involving the police and the rioting masses”, including 11 people for gunshot wounds.
A reporter claimed that the loud explosions continued, noting that he saw people looting the property of car drivers in parts of the capital before the police intervened with firing.
Wine was arrested during an election campaign in eastern Uganda, just weeks after a previous arrest, according to his staff.
“The price of freedom is high, but we will surely overcome it,” Wines staff stated in a tweet from his official report in which he announced his imprisonment on Wednesday.
The politician’s brother, opposition activist Fred Nyanzi, told the dpa news agency.
“We weren’t allowed to see him and we don’t know what’s going on,” Joel Cignoni, spokesperson for Bobby Wine’s political party, stated
On his part, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell Fontelles expressed his sadness regarding the situation, confirming that “Government must ensure the safety of all election candidates and their supporters, whatever political affiliation.”
It's so sad #EU the champions of democracy violation of democracy is happening under your watch , we the oppressed Ugandans we are part of you we also want to breath and live democracy #FreeBobiWine #stoppolicebrutalityinuganda
— #PeoplePower (@abbasssentongo) November 19, 2020
It was claimed that since 38-year-old singer, whose real name is Robert Kyagolani Sentamu, expressed his intention to run for election against 76-year-old President Yoweri Museveni, he has been arrested multiple times.
Although the Ugandan police did not immediately respond to the incident, it issued a statement posted on their official website on Wednesday, 18 November, the Inspector General indicated that enforcement of Covid-19 related to campaign events was tightened.
“We would like to inform the public that the Joint Security Task Force in Busoga North, today arrested the NUP Presidential candidate, Hon. Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert, for his continued violations of the Electoral Commission and Ministry of Health guidelines, during the political campaigns. He was arrested together with Pastor Muwanguzi Andrew at around 11:30am, at the Ssaza Grounds, Luuka Town Council in Luuka District. The two were actively involved in the massive mobilization of unauthorized assemblies and processions amidst the threat of Covid-19 in Uganda. The majority of the participants had no safeguards of facemasks, physical distancing and proper hygiene,” the statement said.
