Photo Credit: BBC
Latif Madoi, a prominent Ugandan designer, found himself in an unexpected situation on May 13. While at his fashion academy, police officers abruptly arrested him and four of his students. Their alleged offense? Possessing "uniforms declared to be for the exclusive use" of the military and police, which is illegal under Ugandan law. The authorities also seized some of Madoi's sewing machines and finished garments.
More than a month later, Madoi remains incarcerated in Kasangati prison, located on the outskirts of the capital, Kampala. His lawyer, George Musisi, revealed that Madoi is feeling "depressed." One of the main reasons for his distress is having to cut off the dreadlocks he spent 17 years growing. For Madoi, these locs were not just a hairstyle; they were integral to his Rasta identity.
The significance of Madoi's dreadlocks extends beyond his personal experience. Bobi Wine, Uganda's charismatic opposition leader and singer, visited Madoi in jail. Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, empathized with the designer's pain, emphasizing the loss of his dreadlocked hair. Wine's signature red beret and overalls have become iconic, and he publicly questioned why Madoi should be imprisoned for creating the overalls he wears.
The police claim that during their raid on Madoi's school, they discovered illegal garments, including "military overalls," "military caps," and an "army green pair of shorts." Since 2005, wearing military uniform has been prohibited in Uganda. Recently, red berets—associated with Bobi Wine and his supporters—were added to the list of outlawed clothing items. However, Madoi's lawyer disputes the police's seizure, arguing that they failed to provide pictures of the alleged illegal items.
Madoi's reputation as a revolutionary garment designer precedes his affiliation with Bobi Wine. He has received several African fashion awards, and the Ugandan newspaper Daily Monitor hailed him as a "revolutionary garment designer of the first degree." Despite the controversy surrounding his arrest, Madoi's case highlights the need for vigilance in protecting creative expression and individual identity within Uganda's legal framework.
