Court rules against detention

A JUDGE has ruled that Ugandan security forces cannot detain presidential challenger Bobi Wine inside his home, and has rebuked authorities for holding the opposition candidate under house arrest, following a disputed election result.

Mr Wine, whose real name is Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, has been unable to leave his home since January 14, when Ugandans voted in an election in which the singer-turned-politician was the main challenger to President Yoweri Museveni.

Ugandan authorities have said Mr Wine can only leave his home on the outskirts of the capital, Kampala, under military escort, because they fear his presence in public could incite rioting. But the judge said in his ruling that Mr Wine’s home is not a proper detention facility and noted that authorities should criminally charge him if he threatens public order.

Mr Museveni won the election with 58% of the vote while Mr Wine had 34%, according to official results. Mr Wine insists he won and has said he can prove that the military was stuffing ballot boxes, casting ballots for people and chasing voters away from polling stations.

The presidential challenger has accused Mr Museveni of staging a “coup” in last week’s election in the African country.