Artist and MP Bobi Wine calls himself the ghetto president. In July, he officially announced his candidacy in Uganda's 202 presidential election. The country's current president Yoweri Museveni has been in office since 1986 and Bobi Wine is his most outspoken critic. But now Bobi Wine risks being sentenced to life imprisonment.

The trial that began on Tuesday concerns an incident that took place in August 2018, when President Museveni's government brief was attacked by stone throwers. The stone throwers are said to be supporters of Bobi Wine. During the crash, Wines car was shot and his driver killed.

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Criticized by Amnesty

In connection with the cart, Wine was arrested for alleged weapons possession, and should then have been tortured by soldiers. The torture was denied by the Ugandan government but it was confirmed that he had been beaten. He was released from the military court, but was subsequently charged with treason, remanded and released on bail following harsh criticism from, among others, Amnesty international.

So Wine is now facing trial, charged with treason, and for having "annoyed and ridiculed" the president. Wine, on his Facebook, describes the charges in the ongoing trial as ridiculous, and regards them as a way for the incumbent president to defeat political resistance. Museveni has previously tried to raise the presidential age limit to 45 years. Bobi Wine is 37.

Colleague was tortured

Last Sunday Bobi Wine's music colleague and political ally Zigy Wine passed away. BBC Africa, among others, has reported that he passed away after being kidnapped and subjected to gross torture, missing one eye and two fingers when found, and many suspect the act had political motives and was orchestrated by Uganda's security forces. However, the police authorities claim that it is a motorcycle accident.