Popular Singer/Politician Bobi Wine Detained By Ugandan Police

Popular musician turned politician Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, has been detained by Ugandan police after shutting down one of his concerts and firing tear gas at his fans, the singer's wife Barbie Itungo Kyagulanyi and supporters said.

He has been arrested in Busabala [a suburb in southern Kampala], where he was to address the media on the cancellation of his concert by the police," Barbie told AFP.

Ugandan police spokesman Fred Enanga confirmed that officers "engaged Bobi Wine earlier and drove him away from Busabala" but would not confirm whether or not he was formally arrested.

The police had earlier on cancelled Bobi Wine's much-anticipated show prior to detaining him Police on the grounds that proper safety measures had not been put in place. Wine's attempt to reach the venue on the shores of Lake Victoria, escorted by dozens of supporters, was blocked by police who fired tear gas and water canisters at his convoy.

Before being detained, Wine posted on Twitter that police were trying to tow the singer's car away.

People teargassed, beaten, Many arrested. We shall overcome... Stand firm," he wrote.

Later, a post on his Twitter account signed "admin" said the singer had been "violently arrested".

It will be remembered that this is not the first time that Bobi Wine has had run-ins with the Police and it certainly will not be the last. Given that he is among the most prominent critics of Uganda's longstanding President Yoweri Museveni, his political ambitions have often been scuttled by the government in the hope of breaking his spirit. Just like Besigye, authorities have repeatedly blocked him from performing publically and there is no sign that they will let up any time soon.

Header Image Credit: Isaac Kasamani