Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine arrested during protest

Bobi Wine was leading a protest against the alleged abduction and torture of his supporters

Musician turned politician Robert Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine, also a presidential candidate in the upcoming elections, speaks during a press conference in Kampala, Uganda, on January 12, 2021. AFP

Ugandan presidential candidate Bobi Wine, right, poses for a photograph with other opposition leaders Patrick Oboi Amuriat, centre, and Mugisha Muntu during a press conference in Kampala on January 12, 2021. EPA

Supporters cheer Bobi Wine as he departs from his last church service ahead of the presidential elections at Namungoona Orthodox Church in Kampala on January 10, 2021. EPA

Bobi Wine addresses the media at his home in Wakiso, Uganda, on January 8, 2021 to announce his plans to take President Yoweri Museveni to the International Court Commission, accusing him of crimes against humanity over the past few months. AFP

Bobi Wine speaks during an interview with Reuters at his home in Magere, Wakiso district on the outskirts of Kampala, January 3, 2021. Reuters

Bobi Wine is escorted by policemen during his arrest in Kalangala in central Uganda on December 30, 2020. Reuters

Bobi Wine campaigns near Kampala, Uganda, November 30, 2020. Reuters

Bobi Wine reacts from inside a police van, in Luuka district, eastern Uganda on November 18, 2020. Reuters

Bobi Wine attends the First Annual "Time 100 Next" gala in New York City, USA, November 14, 2019. Reuters

Bobi Wine greets his followers as he arrives home after being released from prison, in Kampala on May 2, 2019. AP Photo

Bobi Wine, center, arrives at a magistrate's court in Gulu, northern Uganda, August 23, 2018. AP Photo

Elections billboards for Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni and Bobi Wine are seen on a street in Kampala. Reuters

An electoral campaign poster of Bobi Wine is seen on a street ahead of the presidential and parliamentary elections, in Kampala. Reuters

Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine was arrested on Monday during a protest in Kampala, according to a statement released on his Twitter account.

"Bobi Wine arrested as he led MPs and other leaders in a peaceful protest against the abduction, torture and murder of his supporters. The protest was taking place at City Square, Kampala," read a statement released by the administrators of his account.

Last week, Mr Wine urged supporters to demonstrate in Kampala, prompting authorities to send security personnel to the capital.

The pop star turned opposition leader claims hundreds of his supporters were seized and some tortured by state agents.

"Ugandan authorities should take immediate steps to end the ongoing abductions by suspected state agents and cease the unlawful detention without trial of opposition supporters," Human Rights Watch said in a statement.

The rights group said witnesses described to investigators how non-uniformed armed men picked up people from streets and homes and shoved them into vans without license plates.

Some victims said their abductors beat and detained them in unmarked buildings for grilling over their political affiliation and involvement in protests.

"The recent spate of enforced disappearances has only compounded the intense climate of fear in Uganda following the recent violent national elections," said Oryem Nyeko, Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch.

This month, Mr Wine's National Unity Platform released a list of more than 400 supporters it said were still missing or had been released after abduction, some bearing torture marks.

Mr Wine, 39, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, lost to Yoweri Museveni in a Jan. 14 presidential election marred by widespread violence. He rejected the results, claiming he won.

The opposition leader was held under house arrest from polling day until a Ugandan court ordered him to be freed about two weeks later. Security forces barricading his house were ordered to step down.

"It has been an experience of isolation, of torture, of humiliation, having our compound turned into a military garrison," Mr Wine had told Reuters.

Mr Museveni's government says Mr Wine is trying to destabilise Uganda via violent and illegal protests.