Ugandan police surround opposition leader Wine’s party headquarters

Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, told AFP that the headquarters of his National Unity Platform (NUP) in Kavule, a suburb of the Ugandan capital Kampala, had been surrounded.

“Our headquarters are under siege by heavily armed police and the military. The regime expected this, but we are not giving up the fight to liberate Uganda,” he said.

Ugandan authorities have frequently targeted the NUP and Wine, a pop star turned politician who unsuccessfully challenged Museveni in the last election in 2021.

“When Ugandans march to parliament tomorrow in protest, they should be aware that the regime is prepared to shed blood to stay in power. But that should not scare anyone,” Wine added.

“We want a country where we all belong, not just the few in power.”

On Saturday, Ugandan police said they had informed organizers that they would not allow Tuesday’s march to go ahead. The march was organized by young Ugandans on social media under the hashtag #StopCorruption.

“Some elements have planned illegal demonstrations and unrest,” Museveni said in a televised address later that day.

“You’re playing with fire.”

Uganda’s anti-corruption movement was inspired by the anti-government demonstrations that have rocked neighboring Kenya for more than a month and are largely led by young Generation Z Kenyans.

Ugandan police spokesman Kituuma Rusoke said on Monday that police were trying to dissuade protest organizers from what we see as a “potentially anarchic approach.”

“We reiterate our position that we will not tolerate inappropriate behavior.”

Earlier this year, the United States and Britain imposed sanctions on several Ugandan officials, including Parliament Speaker Anita Among, for alleged corruption.

The non-governmental organization Transparency International ranks Uganda low on its Corruption Perceptions Index, ranking 141st out of 180 countries.

The protests in Kenya began as peaceful rallies against controversial tax increases, but at times turned deadly and expanded into a broader campaign against the government.

Activists are now calling for the resignation of President William Ruto and also want to take action against corruption and alleged police brutality.

According to the state-funded Kenyan Human Rights Commission, at least 50 people have been killed and 413 injured since the demonstrations began on June 18.