Opposition Leaders Bobi Wine, Besigye Under House Arrest After Pothole Protest Calls

Kampala, January 19 2024

In a dramatic turn of events, opposition figures Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, and veteran opposition icon Dr. Kizza Besigye found themselves under house arrest on Thursday morning, prevented from leaving their homes after calling for protests against the prevalent potholes in the city.

Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi, expressed strong condemnation for the house detention of both Bobi Wine and Besigye. The opposition leaders were blocked from leaving their homes following their joint call for protests addressing the persisting pothole crisis in the city.

Ssenyonyi criticized the government’s priorities, urging them to focus on addressing developmental issues such as road infrastructure rather than restricting those advocating for positive change. “Politics of Common Sense dictates that the regime should focus resources and energies on fixing roads and other issues of concern to Ugandans, not focusing resources and energies on curtailing those raising an alarm about the issues,” he emphasized.

The Leader of Opposition asserted that embracing a politics of common sense is essential for Uganda’s progress, highlighting the need for the government to channel resources towards resolving critical issues affecting citizens.

Both Bobi Wine and Besigye took to social media to announce their house arrests and called on Ugandans to persist with the planned protests, aiming to compel the government to address the city’s road infrastructure challenges.

The opposition duo emphasized their concern over potholes and the government’s denial of road access to Ugandans, even after recent improvements in preparation for the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit. The protests, they declared, were intended to draw attention to the urgent need for road repairs and improvements, urging citizens to stand up for their right to accessible and safe roads. As tensions rise, the city braces for potential unrest, with political figures and the public closely watching how the government will respond to the growing calls for road maintenance and infrastructure development.