Bobi Wine, Uganda's pop star MP, arrives in US for treatment
A popular Ugandan musician turned opposition politician arrived in the United States on Saturday to seek medical treatment for what he said were injuries suffered during torture by authorities in his country.
Bobi Wine - whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi - posted a photograph of himself in an airport corridor, sitting in a wheelchair and holding crutches, though it wasn't clear which city he was in.
He was elected to parliament last year and has built a large following among young people excited by his scathing attacks on President Yoweri Museveni.
Protests erupted in the Ugandan capital of Kampala on Friday when police detained the pop star at the airport as he tried to leave the country.
"Safely arrived in the US where I'll be receiving specialised treatment following the brutal torture at the hands of SFC soldiers," he wrote on Saturday, referring to Uganda's Special Forces Command.
Safely arrived in the US where I'll be receiving specialised treatment following the brutal torture at the hands of SFC soldiers. We thank the world for standing with us. I will soon tell you what exactly happened to me since 13th August and what is next. #peoplepower Power pic.twitter.com/0IcA3wUAQd
— BOBI WINE (@HEBobiwine) September 1, 2018
"I will soon tell you what exactly happened to me since 13th August and what is next," he said, referring to the day he was detained after being accused by authorities of throwing stones at a presidential convoy. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
He has previously said he was beaten up and tortured while in detention.
Ugandan authorities initially dismissed the allegations that Mr Kyagulanyi was beaten up in detention as "rubbish" and "fake news." But late on Friday a police spokesman said there would be an investigation into those allegations.
Mr Kyagulanyi, who has emerged as a formidable threat to the president who has been in power for 32 years, was charged with treason over his alleged role in the stoning of Mr Museveni's convoy.
Mr Museveni has won praise in the West for his opposition to militant Islam in the region, but many Ugandans regard the 73-year-old as out of touch with his people, nearly 80 percent of whom are under the age of 30.
He has been in power since 1986 and has repeatedly been accused by his opponents of rights abuses and the widespread use of security forces to suppress opposition to his rule. He denies charges that his government is involved in rights violations.
