Robert Kyagulanyi popularly known as Bobi Wine can now breathe a sigh of relief.
This is after a Ugandan court on Monday, January 25 ordered security forces to cease surrounding the home of the opposition leader.
Bobi Wine, whose house arrest since a mid-month presidential election has drawn international pressure, has been crying foul on social media.
Troops have blocked the 38-year-old pop star-turned-politician from leaving his house in a suburb of the capital Kampala since he voted in the January 14 election where he ran against long-serving incumbent President Yoweri Museveni.
“The judge ordered that the state and its agencies should immediately vacate his property and his right to personal liberty should immediately be reinstated,” Bobi Wine’s lawyer George Musisi told Reuters.
Museveni, 76, who has been in power since 1986, was declared winner of the poll with 59% of votes versus 35% for Wine, who had for years denounced corruption and nepotism in his songs.
He rejected the result, alleging fraud which the government denies.
Musisi said the judge also ruled that if there were any serious allegations against Wine, he should be brought before a court or police.
Police spokesman Patrick Onyango said he had no immediate comment as the ruling had not been received.
There was no immediate reaction from the government or confirmation from the court.
U.S. ambassador Natalie E. Brown had tried to visit Wine at his home, drawing an accusation of meddling and subversion from the Ugandan government.
During the campaigning security forces routinely broke up the 38-year-old pop star-turned-politician’s rallies with teargas, bullets, beatings and detentions.
They cited violations of laws meant to curb the spread of the coronavirus for those actions.
In November, 54 people were killed as security forces quelled a protest that erupted after Mr Wine was detained for alleged violation of the anti-coronavirus measures.
Bobi Wine’s property had been “completely sealed off” since election day and journalists and lawyers had been unable to get inside to speak to him.
