By RFIPosted on 08-01-2020Modified on 08-01-2020 at 23:29

After being arrested by opponent Bobi Wine earlier this week, Ugandan police blocked a public parliamentarian's meeting on Wednesday (January 8th) in the center of the country.

This is the third meeting of Bobi Wine canceled in three days as this opponent declared to the Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni launches his campaign for the presidential election scheduled in a year.

Officially, the Ugandan police block Bobi Wine meetings for non-compliance with safety and hygiene rules. Another reason cited: these meetings would be held in open places. Claims swept aside by the candidate's side: on his Facebook page, Bobi Wine indicates that these meetings are held in hotel halls, proof of payment in support.

The musician who became a parliamentarian has been targeted for legal action in Uganda for a year and a half. In August 2018, Bobi Wine was arrested after the graying of the convoy of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in Arua, in the north of the country. Since this incident, the singer has made frequent stays in the premises of the Ugandan police.

Bobi Wine criticizes the government in its political speeches, but also in its songs. Facing President Museveni, who has been in office for more than 30 years, Bobi Wine advocates in particular a "youth revolution" .

A " rehearsal "

" It has become more or less a fashion : every time Bobi Wine wants to hold a public meeting, the authorities prevent it for really absurd reasons, points out Seïf Magango, deputy director of the East Africa program of Amnesty International. They said that the meeting place did not have toilets, among other things. And tomorrow they will say something else. It is like a repetition of what we have seen before. "

The head of Amnesty International explains that the government is using the Public Order Management Act 2013. A law that the NGO has called on the government to revise or repeal many times. “ This law is contrary to human rights standards. It restricts the ability of people to come together and the government should not use it that way. It is worrying that we are approaching the elections and that only the ruling party or the supporters of the president are allowed to meet and discuss the future of the country. "

Bobi Wine has scheduled four public meetings over the next four days.

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