A Ugandan court on Monday ordered security forces to stop surrounding the home of opposition leader Bobi Wine. Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulani, has been under house arrest since the January 14 presidential election.

In November Wine was detained for allegedly violating the government’s COVID-19 rules by holding political rallies. His detention sparked violent protests in which 37 individuals died. He was released on bail later in November.

On January 7, Wine asked the International Criminal Court to investigate President Yoweri Museveni, Security Minister Elly Tumwine and eight other senior officials for sanctioning human rights abuses. In the January 14 election, Wine ran against incumbent President Museveni. After Wine voted in the election, security forces blocked Wine from leaving his house.

In the election, Museveni was declared the winner. He had 59 percent of votes, while Wine had 35 percent. Wine rejected the results, and he is entitled to challenge the result within 15 days following the announcement of the election results by the Supreme Court.

There was substantial foreign pressure on the Ugandan government to free Wine, including from the US. Wine’s lawyer George Musisi said Monday that the judge ordered that “the state and its agencies should immediately vacate his property and his right to personal liberty should immediately be reinstated.”