Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine says he is under house arrest after returning from overseas
France 24Oct 05, 2023
The Facts
Uganda’s main opposition leader, Bobi Wine, was detained at the Entebbe International Airport on Thursday upon his return to the country from a tour of several countries, including South Africa, according to his National Unity Platform (NUP) Party.
Wine reported that he was dragged by "goons" before going through immigration and put under house arrest. Police, however, claimed that the 41-year-old was merely escorted to his residence in Magere, Kasangati.
The Spin
Narrative A
Ugandan authorities have repeatedly harassed and intimidated opposition leaders. The abduction and violent arrest of the main opposition leader, Bobi Wine, is an example of how President Museveni's security forces violated citizens' rights to freedom of expression and assembly. The Ugandan government must be held accountable for its human rights abuses.
Narrative B
Despite propagandists spreading rumors of his arrest, Bobi Wine was, in fact, safely escorted to his home as NUP activists had planned to wait for him on the roads from the airport. Police took this decisive action so as to ensure that business activities and movements along the highway linking Entebbe to Kampala wouldn't be disturbed.