Security forces in Uganda have detained more than 300 supporters and officials from the party of opposition presidential candidate Bobi Wine since campaigning for a January election kicked off last month, his party’s spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Pop star-turned-politician Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, is challenging 81-year-old President Yoweri Museveni

for the second time after coming second in the last election in 2021.

Now Africa’s fourth-longest-ruling leader, Museveni’s government has changed the constitution twice to remove age and term limits, allowing him to remain in office since 1986.

Spokesperson for Wine’s party, National Unity Platform (NUP), Joel Ssenyonyi, said the arrests included scores detained this week in the capital Kampala, where Wine began campaigning on Monday.

Adding that the majority of those detained are ordinary supporters, but also include campaign coordinators.

If Museveni wins a new five-year term, he will extend his rule in the East African country to nearly half a century.