Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine, who is under de facto house arrest by the military, has filed an arbitrary detention complaint to the United Nations, UN.
“Nigerian human rights lawyer Femi Falana has filed this complaint on my behalf to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Arrest.
“We are challenging my continued illegal confinement by the Ugandan police and the military,” Wine tweeted on Wednesday, January 20, 2021.
Nigerian human rights lawyer Femi Falana has filed this complaint on my behalf to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Arrest. We are challenging my continued illegal confinement by the Ugandan police and the military! pic.twitter.com/NS3A77oh3a
— BOBI WINE (@HEBobiwine) January 20, 2021
Wine’s residence in Kampala has been surrounded by the army since Friday, a day after Uganda conducted presidential elections in which Wine competed against President Yoweri Museveni.
Long-time president Museveni, 76, was re-elected with almost 59 percent of the vote, followed by 38-year-old Wine, with roughly 35 percent.
Wine says he will legally contest the result of the presidential election, alleging “widespread fraud” during the Jan. 14 poll, which was seen as Uganda’s first election in which there was a real threat to Museveni’s rule.
Museveni, one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders, has retained power for 35 years. He had changed Uganda’s constitution to enable himself to run for yet another five-year term.
The election had been overshadowed by violence since campaigning began, with almost daily violence.
The internet was shut down across the country shortly before the start of voting. It has since returned, though social media remains unavailable.
Source: Vanguard
