A Ugandan court has ordered the military and police to stop surrounding the home of opposition leader Bobi Wine, who says he has been held under house arrest since the country’s presidential elections.
Mr Wine’s lawyer George Musisi told the Reuters news agency: “The judge ordered that the state and its agencies
should immediately vacate his property and his right to personal liberty should immediately be reinstated.”
Incumbent Yoweri Museveni, 76, who has been in power since 1986, was declared the winner of the 14 January election with 59% of the vote against Mr Wine’s 35%.
During the campaigning security forces routinely broke up Mr Wine’s rallies with teargas, bullets, beatings and detentions.
They cited violations of laws meant to curb the spread of the coronavirus for those actions.
In November, 54 people were killed as security forces quelled a protest that erupted after Wine was detained for
alleged violation of the anti-coronavirus measures.
Sky’s Africa correspondent John Sparkes says Mr Wine’s property had been “completely sealed off” since election day and journalists and lawyers had been unable to get inside to speak to him.
Sparkes added: “If the past is a guide it doesn’t mean that Bobi Wine will get out of his property. The authorities are likely to find a new reason to keep him under detention.”