KIZZA BESIGYE

Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye has been criminally charged by authorities who accuse him of inciting violence with his efforts to stage street protests against rising commodity prices that the government largely blames on the war in Ukraine

A Ugandan opposition figure who is calling for street protests against rising commodity prices is being detained inside his home by police

While longtime President Yoweri Museveni has been declared the winner of a sixth term, the rise of the 38-year-old Wine's party marks a generational shift. You keep cutting, chipping away until the tree falls," said Joel Ssenyonyi, spokesman for Wine's National Unity Platform. Museveni, a former guerilla leader who has held office since 1986, faced arguably his greatest election challenge yet from Wine. Wine, who is effectively under house arrest, can challenge the election results in Uganda's highest court. A presidential candidate must launch any legal challenge to election results within 10 days of the declaration of final results.

Mityana Municipality politician, Zaake Francis, close ally to opposition leader Bobi Wine gestures, in Rubaga hospital, Kampala, Uganda, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, after he was alledgedly beaten by security personnel at the gates of Bobi Wine's house on Saturday. Police swooped in at dawn at the offices of Wine’s National Unity Platform, diverted traffic, and stopped people from entering, party spokesman Joel Ssenyonyi told The Associated Press. Wine’s party has said it has video evidence of the military stuffing ballot boxes, casting ballots for people and chasing voters away from polling stations. The Daily Monitor newspaper reported that the vote-rich central district of Wakiso, widely seen as Wine's stronghold, was the most affected. “We reiterate our intention to pursue action against those responsible for the undermining of democracy and human rights in Uganda,” it said.

Bobi Wine, during a Press conference in Kampala Uganda, Tuesday, Jan.12, 2021. Wine, who insisted Tuesday that his campaign is nonviolent, urged his supporters not to be intimidated by the security forces. Wine, whose real name is Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, earlier on Tuesday joined other opposition figures in criticizing widespread violence by security forces. Those deaths form a critical part of Wine’s petition to the International Criminal Court to investigate alleged acts of torture, mutilation and murder of civilian protesters by security forces. That means potential confrontations with security forces.

Bobi Wine, a singer and lawmaker whose real name is Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, speaks at the National Unity Platform (NUP) head office in the Kamwokya suburb of Kampala, Uganda Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. Bobi Wine, who spoke on Monday to answer questions swirling around his age and academic record, cited "a pattern of repression and suppression" aiming to derail his bid against the long-time president Yoweri Museveni in polls scheduled for 2021. (AP Photo/Ronald Kabuubi)KAMPALA Ugandan singer and opposition politician Bobi Wine said on Monday he faces a pattern of repression and suppression seeking to derail his bid to challenge the country's long-time president in elections next year. Museveni accuses Wine and other opposition figures of encouraging young people into rioting. People associated with Wine are a misguided group being used by some foreigners to destabilize Uganda, the president said last week.

KAMPALA A longtime opposition leader in Uganda announced on Wednesday that he will not run against President Yoweri Museveni in polls scheduled for 2021, saying he will continue seeking democratic change by other means. The 75-year-old Museveni is accused of getting the legislature to remove age limits on the presidency so that he can stay in power. Museveni accuses Wine and other opposition figures of encouraging young people into rioting. Museveni's opponents say corruption is thriving and accuse the president of entrenching his power through his firm grip on the military, Uganda's most powerful institution. The army has become even more influential amid the coronavirus pandemic as uniformed soldiers enforce lockdown measures, sometimes with brutal force.