Lawmakers across world have slammed the Ugandan government for its continued persecution of Bobi Wine following this weekend’s raid in Jinja District. The Daily Monitor and Agence France-Presse report on the international outrage.
US Congressman Brad Sherman of California took to Twitter this weekend to denounce Museveni’s attacks on the “essential principle of freedom of speech” in Uganda:
Earlier this year I met with @HEBobiWine after he was brutally beaten and detained by Ugandan security forces for speaking out against corruption. Today they have reportedly surrounded him and his team. The Ugandan govt must commit to the essential principle of freedom of speech. pic.twitter.com/ddb5WpKbSF
— Rep. Brad Sherman (@BradSherman) December 16, 2018
His Californian colleague Congresswoman Karen Bass also protested the arbitrary detention of those traveling with the Kyadondo East MP, saying the government’s actions are incompatible with democracy:
Reports are coming out that @HEBobiwine may be in danger in Uganda.
Stifling freedom of speech and expression and arbitrary arrests have no place in a democracy.
— Congressmember Bass (@RepKarenBass) December 15, 2018
Bobi Wine’s attorney, Robert Amsterdam, called the raid in Jinja “a clear and brazen act of targeted political repression by the Ugandan authorities aimed at violating Bobi Wine’s human rights,” Agence France-Presse reports.
Prime Minister of New Zealand Helen Clark shared in the international condemnation, calling reports of Bobi Wine’s persecution “disturbing” and calling on Museveni’s government to allow for a true opposition to exist, as must be the case in any democracy:
Disturbing reports from #Uganda 🇺🇬 where Opposition MP #BobiWine is again in hiding following police violently arresting members of his concert crew. Bobi was badly hurt in an earlier violent arrest & detention. Govt must allow opposition space @HEBobiwine https://t.co/T9apsa1KIM pic.twitter.com/DYmcARyqDQ
— Helen Clark (@HelenClarkNZ) December 16, 2018
In the UK, Labour MP Paul Williams slammed what called “anti-democratic” actions by the Ugandan authorities and called on his countrymen to pressure their representatives to sign onto an early day motion calling for Downing Street to take a stand against democratic backsliding in Uganda:
Ugandan pop star MP Bobi Wine 'in hiding after police raid'
This is frightening for @HEBobiwine and anti-democratic
Please contact your UK Member of Parliament.
Ask them to sign https://t.co/sbCoRnU07Y to support Bobi and other Uganda MPs https://t.co/B2Yg30A6yC
— Dr Paul Williams MP (@PaulWilliamsMP) December 16, 2018
Read the full articles in The Daily Monitor and The Guardian.