Uganda’s National Unity Platform (NUP) party’s presidential candidate, Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has been arrested by the police.
Bobi Wine, a former reggae star, was grabbed and whisked away by the security agents minutes after he was cleared to run by the East African country’s Independent Electoral Commission.
Bobi Wine’s supportes had gathered outside the nomination venue and along the road to the centre.
Police had earlier announced strict restrictions on the number of supporters accompanying presidential aspirants to the electoral commission to submit their nomination papers.
Supporters who had gathered at the National Unity Platform party headquarters for their manifesto launch were dispersed with tear gas.
Local reports said the supporters in Magere had formed a procession and attempted to accompany their presidential aspirant to Kyambogo for nominations.
Kyagulanyi is supposed to be the first presidential nominee scheduled to be nominated on the second day today at 10:00am.
Police had designated a special route for him which would have seen him leave his home in Magere, via Gayaza Road then Kisaasi and Ntinda before his nomination in Kyambogo but supporters have jammed the road.
The 38-year-old will face off against nine other presidential candidates including the incumbent President Yoweri Museveni in next year’s election.