A prominent Ugandan democracy and human rights campaigner, Bobi Wine, has reportedly been prohibited from entering the UK, according to his legal representatives. This development has raised questions as the Ugandan long term leader, Yoweri Museveni, enjoys unrestricted visits to the country.
Bobi Wine, a widely acclaimed musician turned opposition MP, is said to still face exclusion from the UK Home Office due to past homophobic lyrics he performed over a decade ago. He has since apologized for his previous remarks and has dedicated years to advocating for LGBTQ rights, especially in Uganda, where oppressive laws against the LGBTQ community exist.
Peter Tatchell, a veteran advocate for gay rights, along with various organizations, have publicly supported Bobi Wine and called for his entry into the UK. He intends to visit to promote his new film, “Bobi Wine: Ghetto President,” which recounts his journey from growing up in a Kampala slum to challenging one of Africa’s longest-standing autocratic regimes.
However, the Home Office has allegedly not responded to his applications for a UK visit. While the power to exclude foreign nationals rests with the Home Secretary, periodic reviews of such decisions are customary.
Bobi Wine’s London-based lawyers have recently written to the government, threatening judicial review proceedings if they do not receive a response within two weeks. Notably, the UK stands alone in its decision to ban Bobi Wine’s entry, as he is frequently welcomed in the US and other nations where he is celebrated for his democracy advocacy, despite the risks it poses to his safety.
This week, he faced house arrest upon returning from a trip to South Africa, with reports of his supporters being subjected to violence. In 2018, his driver was shot, an incident Wine believes was aimed at him. A segment of his new film, directed by British filmmaker Christopher Sharp, delves into alleged election fraud.
Bobi Wine missed the film’s initial premiere in August due to the Home Office’s lack of response, and it seems unlikely that he will be able to attend a second high-profile screening scheduled for November.
His lawyers expressed their disappointment with the British Government, highlighting Bobi’s significant and public transformation in his views. They also criticized the UK for banning him while permitting delegations of Ugandan MPs who supported anti-LGBTQ laws to visit.
Bobi Wine leads the National Unity Platform, Uganda’s primary opposition party challenging Yoweri Museveni, who has held power since 1986. During protests in November 2020, at least 54 of Bobi Wine’s supporters lost their lives, and numerous campaign staff members were detained for weeks during the recent election, during which the internet was also shut down for 10 days.
Tayab Ali, who represents Bobi Wine at Bindmans solicitor, suggested that the Home Office’s inaction might be due to incompetence. He emphasized the importance of applying the exclusion power with purpose and rationality to prevent it from becoming a mindless process.
Ali added, “Uganda has criminalized homosexuality to an extreme degree. Here you have a politician who, at considerable risk to himself, is fighting for minority rights, but he is the one being excluded. It’s completely the wrong way round.”
A spokesperson from the Home Office declined to provide comments on individual cases.
Source – Telegraph
