Uganda stopped United States Ambassador Natalie Brown from visiting Bobi Wine after the victory of Yoweri Museveni. The 76-year-old has been in power since 1986. He was declared winner of the presidential election with 59 percent of the vote; Wine polled 35 percent. On Monday, the main challenger, real name Robert Kyagulanyi, said the envoy […]
Museveni: Uganda stops US envoy from meeting of Bobi Wine
Uganda stopped United States Ambassador Natalie Brown from visiting Bobi Wine after the victory of Yoweri Museveni.
The 76-year-old has been in power since 1986. He was declared winner of the presidential election with 59 percent of the vote; Wine polled 35 percent.
On Monday, the main challenger, real name Robert Kyagulanyi, said the envoy was blocked from seeing him.
“This afternoon, the US Ambassador to Uganda made an effort to visit me but was turned away from my gate by the soldiers who have held me and my wife captive for the past five days.”, he tweeted.
Hours later, the U.S. embassy confirmed Brown was blocked from entering the residence in the northern part of the capital, Kampala.
The mission explained that the diplomat only wanted to check on Wine’s health and safety.
On Tuesday, the music star-turned-legislator accused the authorities of abusing his right of freedom.
“Day Six under house arrest and we’re still stuck with an 18 months old baby who had paid a visit to her auntie (my wife) be4 we were raided & besieged. The Dad has been denied access to her. We have run out of food and milk. No one is allowed to leave or come into our compound.”
Now, Uganda has directly accused the American envoy of seeking to subvert the election.
Ofwono Opondo, government spokesman, told Brown to mind her business.
“What she has been trying to do blatantly is to meddle in Uganda’s internal politics, particularly elections, to subvert our elections and the will of the people. She shouldn’t do anything outside the diplomatic norms”, Opondo warned.
Opondo alleged that Brown had a track record of causing trouble in countries where she has worked in the past, adding that the government was watching her.
Wine is being held to prevent a massive nationwide protest.
The candidate and his National Unity Platform (NUP) rejected the election results after the official announcement.
Security forces have blocked party officials from offices in Kampala. The opposition says the plot was to stop them from gathering evidence of electoral malpractices.