Uganda: the American ambassador prevented from going to the opponent Bobi Wine

Ugandan soldiers in front of the home of opponent Bobi Wine in Kampala, January 18, 2021. REUTERS - BAZ RATNER

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Towards a diplomatic quarrel between the United States and Uganda?

Kampala accused US Ambassador Natalie Brown of "malice" on Tuesday.

She had tried to visit opposition leader Bobi Wine, stranded at his home.

But she was asked to turn around by the soldiers who have surrounded the opponent's house for about five days.

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American Ambassador Natalie Brown arrived at the gates

of Bobi Wine's home

before being turned back by a row of police in riot gear.

In a message posted on Facebook, she explains that she wanted to check the health and safety of the opponent, Robert Kyagulanyi of his real name, who had complained of running out of food.

Because since the presidential election last Thursday, Bobi Wine's house has been surrounded by armed forces.

Malevolence

 "

But Ambassador Brown's attempt to come to the aid of Yoweri Museveni's main rival sparked a strong reaction from those in power.

Ugandan government spokesman Ofwono Opondo accused him of " 

malice

 " and urged the US diplomat to respect diplomatic rules.

It must be said that since taking office during the electoral campaign, Natalie Brown has been quite critical of the Ugandan authorities, not hesitating to denounce the harassment of opposition candidates and

the de facto house arrest. Bobi Wine

, even if Kampala says it is above all its own protection.

No lesson to take

In a column published in a pro-government newspaper, the spokesperson brushed aside Ms. Brown's criticisms, and recalled that Uganda has no lessons to take from the United States in matters of democracy, especially after the false fraud allegations made by Donald Trump and the violence on Capitol Hill.

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