Over 300 supporters were detained during the presidential campaign, according to the Ugandan opposition

Since campaigning for a January election began last month, more than 300 members of opposition presidential candidate Bobi Wine’s party have been detained by Ugandan security forces, according to a spokesperson for his party on Tuesday.

After finishing second in the previous election in 2021, pop star-turned-politician Wine—real name Robert Kyagulanyi—is running against 81-year-old President Yoweri Museveni for the second time.

Museveni’s government has twice amended the constitution to eliminate age and term limitations, enabling him to stay in power since 1986 and make him Africa’s fourth longest-ruling leader.

Joel Ssenyonyi, a spokesman for Wine’s party National Unity Platform (NUP), told Reuters that among the arrests were several people arrested this week in Kampala, the capital, where Wine started his campaign on Monday.

Since the campaigns began, more than 300 people have been taken into custody. Ssenyonyi stated, “The regime is in a panic and is using arrests as a deterrent and to instill fear in our people.”

He claimed that while regular supporters make up the majority of those arrested, there are also campaign coordinators, Wine’s assistants, and other officials.

Requests for information from Reuters were not answered by police spokesperson Rusoke Kituuma.

A mob of Wine’s supporters was dispersed by security personnel using water cannon and tear gas at a rally in Kampala’s Kawempe neighborhood on Monday, according to footage broadcast by local broadcaster NTV.

Police were also seen spraying his supporters with pepper spray in a video that was uploaded to Wine’s X account late Monday. Supporters were spotted being beaten with a cane by a man in civilian clothing who came up beside the security guards.

At another rally on the outskirts of Kampala, at least 100 people were arrested on Monday, and dozens more were taken into custody on Tuesday, according to Ssenyonyi.

In a statement released late on Monday, police stated they had arrested seven individuals following altercations with Wine’s fans and accused them of hurting seven officers with stones.

“Security personnel responded by using public order measures to control rowdy crowds,” claimed the statement.

Wine claims that ballot stuffing, voter intimidation, bribery, and other election-rigging techniques helped Museveni win the previous election. Officials from the ruling party have denied the charge.

Museveni will have ruled the East African nation for almost 50 years if he is elected to a new five-year term.