Bobi Wine, the opposition leader front-runner in Uganda, sued the Ugandan president and some of his top officials over allegations of widespread human rights abuses in the country that he claims were orchestrated by the administration.
The Associated Press reported that Wine was seen in a virtual press conference last week being confronted by Ugandan police officers. Wine had been telling his followers he petitioned the International Criminal Court.
The AP reported viewers watched officers drag Wine out of his car while he addressed those watching, saying, “As you can see, I’m being arrested.”
Wine told the officers they are an embarrassment to the country. The report said the candidate was able to carry on campaigning, but 23 members of his campaign were arrested.
Deadly protests have broken out in the country in recent weeks. Attendees have been beaten, tear-gassed, arrested, and put in solitary confinement, The New York Times reported. Reuters reported 54 people have been killed.
The election is this Thursday, and 17.6 million are expected to vote. Wine is joined by nine other hopefuls.
Wine, 38, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, was released from jail late last year after being charged with breaching the country’s coronavirus rules. He posted a video from the courtroom on his Facebook page, according to The Times, where he struck a defiant tone. “It’s been tough. It’s been hell. We shall be free or we shall die while trying to be free. We are not slaves,” he said.
Wine is trying to defeat President Yoweri Museveni, 76, who is attempting to win his sixth term. The paper said Museveni recently signed a bill that no longer caps the age of the country’s president at 75.
The Times reported that Museveni approaches the election in a good position. The anger against him in the country is real, but the opposition has shown signs of fragmentation.
Museveni has been praised for his handling of the coronavirus outbreak. Uganda, a country of 42.72 million, reported only 290 deaths linked to the virus. But the economy and job prospects for many remain bleak. The World Bank reported about 700,000 people in the country reach working age each year, but, on average, there are only 75,000 new jobs created.
The Washington Post reported that Uganda is a young country, where two-thirds of the voting public is under 30 years old. The paper pointed out that means Museveni has been president for as long as some of these voters have been alive. Wine is Museveni’s toughest competition, and he could turn out a vote featuring “the frustrated young vs. the fearful old.”
Wine’s complaint was filed in The Hague and blamed Museveni’s government for abusing protesters and assaulting political figures, The Times reported.
Martin Okoth Ochola, Uganda’s police chief, held a news conference last week and was asked about allegations from his officers. These authorities insist that rallies for Wine violated COVID guidelines and the government is trying its best to protect the people.
“You are insisting you must go where there is danger. Yes, we shall beat you for your own sake to help you understand that you do not go there. Yes, we shall use reasonable force to ensure that you don’t go where there is a risk. Actually, I have no apology,” the chief said.
TREND FORECAST: We note this movement to further illustrate the tensions and unease throughout the region: Ethiopia, Eritrea, Central African Republic, Sudan, Libya, Kenya, Niger, Nigeria, etc…. civil wars, civil unrest, refugee crisis, hunger, corruption, violence raging throughout the area.
As the COVID War takes more casualties, destroying millions of businesses and hundreds of millions of lives and livelihoods, civil wars will escalate into regional wars.
TOP TREND FOR 2021: “YOUTH REVOLUTION”
To young people, as the data proves, the virus is an old people’s sickness, not theirs. As more young people struggle to find jobs, pay for education, unable to move from their parents’ homes, not allowed to go out and play… they will rebel, starting and joining anti-establishment movements, political parties, and creating new sounds and styles.
