Uganda’s High Court has ordered security forces to end the confinement of the country’s presidential runner-up, Robert Kyagulani aka Bobi Wine, who has been under home arrest since the January 14 Presidential election.
Heavily armed soldiers and police officers surrounding the property have blocked members of Wine’s household, including his wife, Barbie, from leaving their compound in the capital, Kampala, since voting day.
In Monday’s ruling by the court’s Civil Division in Kampala, Justice Michael Elubu ruled in favor of a petition lodged by Wine’s lawyers asking for his release.
Elubu said, “The continued indefinite restriction and confinement of the applicant to his home is unlawful and his right to liberty has been infringed.
“Having found that the restrictions are unlawful it is hereby ordered that they are lifted.”
The state government had argued that the restrictions imposed on Wine were “preventative” measures for his own protection and to prevent protests against the election result, which Wine claims was altered in favor of President Yoweri Museveni.
