Uni director in fight to free jailed African classmate

A TASMANIAN is campaigning to free a classmate jailed in Uganda for treason.

University of Tasmania director Jacinta Young met Ugandan politician and pop star Bobi Wine at a Harvard University Leadership course in February.

He is now in jail in Kampala for protesting at a presidential convoy.

The 36-year-old Ugandan, also known as Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, led a crusade against a bid to scrap the presidential age limit of 75, which would deny President Yoweri Museveni, 74, a sixth term.

Since Mr Wine’s capture two weeks ago, Ms Young’s 34 Harvard classmates from across the globe have banded together in a bid to shine a light on Mr Wine’s arrest.

“As a group of classmates, we came together to try and think of ways to help our friend,” Ms Young said.

“Spending time with Bobi at Harvard, he shared with us some of the issues he experienced in Uganda and to hear of him in this situation is just incomprehensible.

“Living in Tasmania, these sorts of atrocities happening around the world seem far away, but when you actually know the person involved it feels frighteningly close.”

Last week dozens of inter- national musicians, including Coldplay’s Chris Martin, issued an open letter and a petition condemning the treatment of the former Ugandan pop star.

“We call upon the Ugandan government to ensure [Mr Wine has] full access to medical treatment, to allow a full and impartial investigation of his violent arrest and imprisonment and … to follow internationally recognised procedures and safeguards in proceeding with any case against him,” the letter read.

Ms Young said her class group supported the musicians’ petition, and will continue to fight for Mr Wine’s release.