Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine reported that security forces have besieged his party’s headquarters in Kampala, a day before a planned anti-corruption march that authorities have banned.
According to the AFP, the National Unity Platform’s headquarters are surrounded by heavily armed police and military personnel.
The action comes two days after President Yoweri Museveni, who has ruled the country for nearly four decades, warned that Ugandans planning to take to the streets on Tuesday were “playing with fire.”
Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, told AFP that the headquarters of his National Unity Platform in Kavule, a suburb of the Ugandan capital Kampala, were surrounded.
“Our headquarters are under siege by heavily armed police and the military. This was expected by the regime but we are not giving up on the struggle to liberate Uganda,” he said.
Ugandan authorities have frequently cracked down on the NUP and Wine, a popstar-turned-politician who challenged Museveni unsuccessfully in the last elections in 2021.
“As Ugandans march to parliament to protest tomorrow, they should be aware that the regime is ready to shed their blood to stay in power but this should not scare anyone.
“We want a country where we all belong not for the few in power,” Wine added.
On Saturday, Ugandan police said they had informed organisers that they would not permit the planned anti-corruption protest in Kampala on Tuesday.
“Some elements have been planning illegal demonstrations, riots. You are playing with fire,” Museveni said in a televised address later that day.
BBC reported on Sunday that the protesters, mostly young Ugandans, are demanding an end to corruption in government and have been inspired by recent demonstrations in neighbouring Kenya.
Museveni was reported to have accused the protest organisers of working with foreigners to cause chaos in Uganda and warned that the government would not allow disruptions to the country’s progress.
“We are busy producing wealth… and you here want to disturb us. You are playing with fire because we cannot allow you to disturb us,” he stated.
