Riyaz Patel
Ugandan pop star and presidential hopeful Bobi Wine has blasted the government’s banning of civilian use of red berets, a symbol of his growing ‘People Power’ movement seeking to dislodge longtime President Yoweri Museveni.
The government has gazetted the red beret and other pieces of military wear as “property of the state.”
It further warned people who wear or sell them that they would be prosecuted under military law, which can lead to a life sentence.
“This beret ban is a sham. It is a blatant attempt to suffocate a successful threat to the autocratic status quo,” 37-year-old Wine said.
“People Power is more than a red beret, we are bigger than our symbol. We are a booming political movement fighting for the future of Uganda and we will continue our struggle for democracy.”
Since becoming a legislator in 2017, Bobi Wine – real name Robert Kyagulanyi – has rattled Ugandan authorities who view him as a formidable threat to end Museveni’s more than three decades in power.
Wine has amassed a large support base especially among young Ugandans who have been wooed by his bold criticism of Museveni, sometimes delivered in his lyrics.
