UGANDA RELEASES OPPOSITION LEADER

Ugandan authorities on Friday charged an opposition leader and presidential contender with breaching coronavirus rules and then 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 Kyagulanyi, was arrested Wednesday morning as he prepared to hold a rally that authorities said violated coronavirus 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 17.6 million Ugandans are set to cast their ballots. Museveni, 76, will be facing off with 10 other candidates in the elections, including Wine, who is 38.

Originally a musician, Wine won a seat in Parliament just as Parliament passed a bill that eliminated the presidential age limit of 75 — effectively paving the way for Museveni to run for a sixth term.

Wine’s arrest, the second one this month, ref lects the adversity facing opposition figures in nations across East Africa as they challenge entrenched leaders and political parties.

Authorities had arrested Wine several times in the past. But after the arrest Wednesday, demonstrations and rioting erupted across the capital, Kampala, and in major cities, with video footage showing burned tires and blocked roads.

The police say 28 people died in the upheaval — though some news reports cite higher figures — and 65 were injured.