ABOUT 45 people died during protests in Uganda last week over the arrest of opposition presidential hopeful and musician Bobi Wine, with more than 800 people arrested. 

Police spokesman Fred Enanga said on Monday that “our hearts go to the families” of those killed. 

The protest was Uganda’s worst unrest in a decade and took place just months before the presidential election early next year.

Mr Enanga said that the arrests occurred during the two days of protests that broke out on November 18 after Mr Wine was arrested in the eastern town of Luuka.

Police accused him of flouting Covid-19 guidelines that require presidential candidates to address less than 200 people. 

He was later charged with negligent conduct likely to cause spreading of an infectious disease.

Mr Wine, who has been arrested many times in recent years, has gained support from many Ugandans with his calls for President Yoweri Museveni to retire after 36 years in power.

The United Nations secretary-general condemned the violence last week and called on Ugandan authorities to ensure that all “perpetrators of human rights violation are held accountable.”