Police surround homes of Bobi Wine, Besigye ahead of protests in Kampala

Security forces in Uganda have surrounded homes of opposition politicians ahead of planned protests in Kampala on January 18.

Police have surrounded homes of National Unity Platform (NUP) party leader Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine and veteran opposition leader Kizza Besigye, preventing them from participating in the planned protests.

“The cowardly military and police have surrounded our home and put us under house arrest, but the protest is on. Fix our roads! Free Political Prisoners! Free Uganda,” Bobi Wine posted on his X account.

At the same time, Besigye released a statement on his X account, including photos of military personnel blocking entry to his home.

Police officers surrounding the home of Kizza Besigye, stopping him from joining protests on January 18, 2024. Photo: Kizza Besigye/X

“Barricaded at home by the cowards! No turning back, we deserve better.

“Please do what you can, wherever you’re, with whatever you have, to show the terrible roads affecting you today,” stated Besigye on X.

Bobi Wine and Besigye have been in the forefront in criticizing President Museveni’s government over failure to construct better roads in the country.

As a result, the two opposition leaders had urged their supporters and Ugandans in general to turn up on Thursday, January 18 and protest along the streets in Kampala over the state of poor roads in the city.

“Kampala City Roads turning into a banana plantation! Tonnes of taxpayers money are endlessly taken to State House (home of Mr M7) in scandalous, dodgy ‘classified’ expenditures; Corruption consumes 25% of Ug budget; astronomical ‘defence’ expenditures etc etc, while roads are impassable, healthcare & other services collapsed,” Besigye posted on X.

The police had vowed to block the protests, over allegations that such demonstrations organized by politicians are usually violent and cause destruction of property.

According to the security personnel, the protests would interfere with a summit that was going on in Kampala.

For instance, about 4,000 delegates are attending the 19th Non-Aligned Movement summit in Kampala.

The government had also warned citizens against participating in the protests, adding that such demonstrations usually lead to destruction of property, disruption of businesses and even loss of lives.