Ugandan designer vows to regrow dreadlocks lower in jail

A distinguished Ugandan clothier whose dreadlocks had been lower off after he was arrested has instructed the BBC he plans to develop them again “for so long as [he] lives”.

Latif Madoi, who has made garments for celebrities like late South African reggae icon Fortunate Dube and Jamaica’s Busy Sign, spent simply over six weeks in detention.

He has not been convicted of any crime however the jail authorities however insisted on slicing the dreadlocks he had been rising for 17 years.

On Monday he was launched on bail for a million Ugandan shillings (£213; $269).

After settling in again dwelling, Mr Madoi instructed the BBC that shedding his beloved locs “was his breaking-point”.

The 47-year-old was recognized for performing “style concert events” the place he would make 10 to fifteen clothes in simply two hours.

However now, with out the dreadlocks that had been a key a part of his Rastafarian id, he feels “shy… like I can not go to locations. Possibly I am going to even really feel shy coming again on stage”.

Police mentioned they raided his style faculty and arrested him for possessing “uniforms declared to be for the unique use” of the navy and police, which is against the law underneath Ugandan regulation.

However Mr Madoi, his lawyer and numerous Ugandan supporters online are satisfied he was locked up for his affiliation with Bobi Wine, the opposition chief and singer whose actual title is Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu.

The pair met when Bobi Wine requested Mr Madoi to make him some garments for his concert events and music movies. Their relationship continued when Bobi Wine entered politics – the opposition chief’s signature campaigning outfit, a pair of vivid crimson overalls, had been designed by Mr Madoi.

Mr Madoi accepts that he was in possession of navy gear when police raided his faculty on 13 Could – however that that uniform was from the US military.

He tells the BBC he was making alterations for his good friend who’s a serving marine in the USA.

Regardless of having this uniform, Mr Madoi says he’s sure the police arrested him as a result of he made Bobi Wine’s crimson general.

“There is not any different purpose. Everybody who’s affiliated with Bobi Wine will at all times be arrested,” he says.

“We all know we aren’t free any extra. I can’t go to him at his dwelling any time I would like, like I used to. You at all times concern that possibly you’re going to get arrested.”

The BBC has approached the Ugandan authorities for remark.

The nation’s safety forces have an extended historical past of pursuing President Yoweri Museveni’s political opponents.

Bobi Wine, presently the president’s largest rival, has been arrested quite a few instances and confronted a number of fees, together with treason, all of which he denies.

The authorities deny the arrests have been political and say they’ve been mandatory to keep up regulation and order throughout opposition protests.

On Monday, Bobi Wine introduced Mr Madoi’s launch to his two million followers on social media platform X.

“Welcome again from captivity my brother Latif Madoi,” the message learn.

“It is a disgrace what loss, indignity and humiliation the regime has subjected you to because it detained you 6 weeks in the past for having provided us your skilled companies.”

Mr Madoi is due again in court docket on 29 July. Between from time to time, he will probably be attempting to exchange his faculty’s stitching machines, which had been seized within the raid.

“The enterprise isn’t the identical… college students haven’t any machines the place they’ll study from, the place we will make demonstrations from,” he says.

Mr Madoi can be engaged on feeling assured with out his dreadlocks and has already managed to establish an upside.

“I’ve a daughter… she has by no means seen me with out [dreadlocks]. Possibly she was at all times considering: ‘My dad was born like that’,” he laughs.

“That is comforted me – now she has the possibility to see me with out hair, wanting like another particular person.”