A High Court in Uganda on Monday ordered security forces to end their confinement of presidential election runner-up Robert Kyagulani alias Bobi Wine.
Security forces under the instruction of President Yoweri Museveni have been holding Bobi Wine and his family under de-facto house arrest at his home outside the capital, Kampala, since he returned from voting on January 14.
US ambassador to Uganda was also prevented from visiting the popstar-turned-politician.
Sitting at the court’s Civil Division in Kampala, Justice Michael Elubu ruled in favour of a petition lodged by Bobi Wine’s lawyers asking for his release.
“The continued indefinite restriction and confinement of the applicant to his home is unlawful and his right to liberty has been infringed,” Elubu said.
“Having found that the restrictions are unlawful it is hereby ordered that they are lifted.”
The Ugandan government had argued that the restrictions on Wine’s movements were “preventative” measures for his own protection and to prevent protests against the election result, which Wine claims was rigged in favour of Museveni.
