Ugandan stylist vows to regrow braids cut off in prison

A prominent Ugandan fashion designer who had his braids cut off after being arrested told the BBC he planned to “just do it as long as [he] Life”.

Latif Madoi, who made clothes for celebrities including South Africa’s late reggae icon Lucky Dube and Jamaica’s Busy Signal, has been detained for just over six weeks.

He has not yet been convicted, but prison authorities insist on cutting off the braids he has had for 17 years.

He was released on bail on Monday for 1 million Ugandan shillings (£213; $269).

After returning home, Mr Madoy told the BBC he was “heartbroken” to lose his beloved place.

He said he had begged the prison officials responsible to allow them to keep them and “shed tears” when they were cut.

“I think my braids are my crown,” he said, adding that he was famous for having braids, but now he looked just like everyone else.

Despite losing a large part of his identity, he said “it didn’t change the heart.”

The 47-year-old is known for his “fashion concerts” where he can make 10 to 15 pieces of clothing in just two hours.

But now, without the braids, he feels “shy… like I can’t visit places. Maybe I’ll even feel shy about going back on stage.”

Police said they raided his fashion school and arrested him for possessing “uniforms allegedly intended only for the military and police,” which is illegal under Ugandan law.

But Mr Madoy, his lawyers and Many Ugandan supporters are online He is believed to be jailed over his links to opposition leader and singer Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu.

The two met when Bobi Wine asked Mr. Madoi to make some clothes for his concerts and music videos. Their relationship continued when Bobi Wine entered politics – the opposition leader’s signature campaign outfit was a set of bright red overalls designed by Mr Madoy .

Mr Madoy admitted he had military-style equipment when police raided his school on May 13, but that the uniform came from the US military.

He told the BBC he was doing the makeover for his Marine friends who were serving in the United States.

Despite wearing the uniform, Mr Madoy said he was convinced police had arrested him for making Bobi Wine’s red overalls.

“There is no other reason. Everyone associated with Bobi Wine will always be arrested,” he said.

“We knew we were no longer free. I couldn’t visit him at his house as often as I could before. You always feared you would be arrested.”

The BBC has contacted the Ugandan authorities for comment.

The country’s security forces have long hunted political opponents of President Yoweri Museveni.

Bobi Wine, currently the president’s biggest rival, has been arrested multiple times and faces multiple charges, including treason, all of which he has denied.

Authorities denied the arrests were politically motivated and said they were necessary to maintain law and order during opposition protests.

Bobi Wine announced Mr Madoi’s release to his 2 million followers on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Monday.

“Welcome my brother Latif Madoui back from captivity,” the message read.

“It is truly regrettable how much loss, humiliation and humiliation the regime has caused you since you were detained six weeks ago for providing professional services to us.”

Mr Madoi is due to appear in court again on July 29. Between now and then, he will try to replace the school’s sewing machines seized in the raid.

“Business is different…students don’t have machines to learn from, and they don’t have machines to demonstrate,” he said.

Mr Madoy is also trying to stay confident without having to wear braids and has successfully discovered its benefits.

“I have a 14-year-old daughter…she has never seen me without [dreadlocks]. Maybe she’s been thinking, ‘My dad was born this way,'” he said with a laugh.

“It’s comforting to me – now she has the chance to see me without hair and look just like everyone else.”