KAMPALA, Uganda (CU)_British High Commissioner to Uganda, Kate Airey, on Wednesday (Jan 27), met Robert Kyagulanyi, opposition frontrunner at the recent Ugandan presidential election, following his release from house arrest.
Although long-time ruler President Yoweri Museveni was declared the winner of the election held on January 14, opposition parties have rejected the election results, saying they were fabricated.
In the aftermath of the highly disputed election, the police and military tightened their grip on the country’s biggest opposition party, the National Unity Party, raiding its headquarters and placing its leader, Kyagulanyi (better known as Bobi Wine), under house arrest.
However, following widespread criticism from the international community, the Ugandan High Court on Monday, lifted the house arrest, and ordered security forces leave Wine’s house in Kampala, and Airey became the first western diplomat to successfully meet the opposition leader without any security restrictions since the election.
Following their meeting, the British High Commission in Kampala said Airey and Kyagulanyi “discussed the political situation in Uganda, the restrictions to his political freedoms pre and post elections, and the concerns raised over electoral processes.”
“As a long standing partner to Uganda, and a steadfast advocate for Ugandan democracy, the United Kingdom will continue to follow post-election developments closely,” the statement read.
On January 18, security officials blocked US ambassador to Uganda, Natalie Brown, from visiting Kyagulanyi, as they alleged the American envoy was attempting to overturn the election results.
Subsequently, the American Embassy issued a statement noting that “nobody should be unlawfully denied a means to communicate and the freedom to leave their home”.
Several other Western democracies, including Canada and the European Union have joined the United States in denouncing the election abuses and violence in Uganda, in the recent past.
