Bobi Wine arrested and released shortly after handing nomination papers

By Mourice Seretta

Ugandan Police on Tuesday Dramatically arrested opposition presidential candidate Bobi Wine shortly after handing in his nomination papers to the election body.

His party’s spokesman said Wine was dragged from his car by armed security officers and forced into a police van amid violent scuffles between police and his supporters.

“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 NUP party, said, adding he did not know why Wine was arrested.

Ugandan media reports indicate that Police spokesman Luke Owoyesigire said he had yet to receive a briefing on the arrest and promised to comment later.

The arrest was not the first for the popular musician turned politician since he expressed to run for Uganda’s highest office as police and military have severally disp[ersed his rallies, beaten and detained him together with tens of his supporters.

Wine, 38 whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, is standing against Uganda’s strongman Yoweri Kaguta Museveni who has been at the helm of the East African Country for 34 straight years.

The Uganda Elections are scheduled for February next year.

Museveni was cleared to run in the elections on Monday.