Ugandan pop star and presidential aspirant Bobi Wine has been charged with intending to “alarm, annoy or ridicule” President Yoweri Museveni.
Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, has also been charged with inciting violence after being accused of calling on his supporters to physically harm the president.
The singer denies the charges.
They relate to a rally last year when Mr Museveni’s convoy was allegedly stoned by opposition supporters.
Bobi Wine is already facing a treason charge over the incident and is currently out on bail.
If convicted, he, along with 35 others charged with him, could face a sentence of up to life imprisonment.
The charge sheet says that Bobi Wine and his co-accused “wrongfully restrained” the president by “refusing to give him right of way” when he was travelling in northern Uganda’s Arua area in August 2018 to campaign for a ruling party candidate in a by-election.
This showed “intent to alarm, annoy or ridicule” Mr Museveni, the charge sheet says.
Bobi Wine has been placed under house arrest several times, prompting Angelique Kidjo and other music stars to sign a petition last year to free him.
Uganda has a poor record on freedom of expression, according to Reporters Without Borders, which says President Museveni “tolerates no criticism”.
Last week, an academic was sentenced to 18 years in prison for “cyber harassment” after writing Facebook posts insulting the president of 33 years and his mother.
