Ugandan opposition presidential candidate Bobi Wine was arrested on Tuesday after handing in his nomination papers to the election body, his party’s spokesman said.
Wine, 38, a musician turned politician whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, aims to end Yoweri Museveni’s more than a third of a century in power, which makes him Africa’s third longest-ruling president. Elections are scheduled for February next year.
“They (police) used a hammer and broke the windows of his vehicle and forcefully dragged him out … they bundled him into their own vehicle and took off,” Joel Senyonyi, spokesman for the National Unity Party, said, adding he did not know why Wine was arrested.
Wine’s official twitter account said he was “violently arrested” outside the nomination venue and has been “brutalised by police and military.”
Police spokesman Luke Owoyesigire said he had yet to receive a briefing on the arrest and promised to comment later.
