Bobi Wine dramatically arrested after nomination for Ugandan presidential election -VIDEO

Ugandan opposition presidential candidate Bobi Wine was arrested on Tuesday 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.

VIDEO: Police try to break Hon Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu's car window to execute an arrest. @sabitijoseph @NUP_Ug #UGPresNominations #NBSPoliticom #NBSUpdates #UgVotes2021 pic.twitter.com/0ArAojz6Zx

— NBS Television (@nbstv) November 3, 2020

Bobi Wine was later driven to his home by police amidst the mayhem.

Hon Robert Kyagulanyi has been driven to his home by the Police.

NUP Spokesperson Joel Ssenyonyi was injured amidst the mayhem as the party President was being escorted.
#UGPresNominations #NBSPoliticom #NBSUpdates #UgVotes2021 pic.twitter.com/QSQL4tn9CP

— NBS Television (@nbstv) November 3, 2020

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

Wine, 38, a musician turned politician whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, aims to end Yoweri Museveni’s 34 years in power, making him Africa’s third longest-ruling president. Elections are scheduled for February next year.

Wine’s youthful age and his music have earned him a large following in the relatively young country of 42 million, rattling the ruling National Resistance Movement party and drawing a security crackdown on his supporters.

Since Wine expressed his presidential ambition, police and the military have repeatedly dispersed his rallies, and beaten and detained his supporters.

Museveni was cleared to run in the elections on Monday.

Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu has been arrested.#UGPresNominations #NBSPoliticom #NBSUpdates #UgVotes2021 pic.twitter.com/7GrU0rU3TJ

— NBS Television (@nbstv) November 3, 2020