Uganda charges, releases opposition leader
NAIROBI, Kenya — Ugandan authorities Friday charged an opposition leader andpresidential contender with breaching coronavirus rules and released him from jail two days after his arrest sparked protests nationwide that led to the deaths of at least 28 people and almost 600 arrests.
The candidate, Bobi Wine, arrived in court Friday in the eastern town of Iganga under heavy security. He looked sapped but remained unwavering in his decision to take on President Yoweri Museveni, who has ruled Uganda since 1986.
Wine, whose real name is Robert Ky ag ulanyi,w as arrested Wednesday as he prepared to hold a rally that authorities said violated corona virus safety guidelines for political campaigns.
The deadly violence came just over a week after campaigns for the general election began and two months before more than 17.6millionUgandans are set to cast their ballots. Museveni, 76, will be facing off with 10 other candidates in the election, including Wine, who is 38.
Originally a musician, Wine won a seat in parliament just as it passed a bill that eliminated the presidential age limit of 75 — effectively paving the way for Museveni to run for a sixth term.
Authorities have arrested Wine several times in the past. But after the arrest Wednesday, demonstrations and rioting erupted across the capital, Kampala, and inmajor cities, with video footage showing burned tires and blocked roads.
Police say 28 people died in the upheaval — though some news reports cite higher figures — and that 65 were injured.
Human RightsWatch said the government was using COVID-19measures to crack downon the opposition and media, and it called on authorities to investigate the killings and allow for peaceful gatherings.
Uganda has so far reported 17,148 infections and 159 deaths from the coronavirus.