Ugandan designer vows to regrow dreadlocks he cut in prison

A popular Ugandan fashion designer whose dreadlocks were cut off after his arrest has told the BBC he plans to grow them back “for as long as he lives”.

Latif Madoi, who made clothes for celebrities including the late South African reggae icon Lucky Dube and Jamaica’s Busy Signal, spent just over six weeks in detention.

He was not convicted of any crime, but prison authorities nevertheless insisted on cutting off the dreadlocks he had been growing for 17 years.

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

After settling into his home, Mr Madoi told the BBC the loss of his beloved premises had left him “heartbroken”.

He said he begged the warden in charge of the prison to be allowed to keep them and “shed a tear” when they were cut off.

“I consider my dreadlocks my crown,” he said, adding that he was well known for having them and now looked like everyone else.

Despite losing much of his identity, he said “it doesn’t change the heart.”

The 47-year-old was known for his “fashion gigs” where he would make 10 to 15 dresses in just two hours.

But now, without the dreadlocks, he feels “shy… like I can’t go out there. Maybe I’ll even feel shy going back on stage.”

Police said they raided his fashion school and arrested him for possessing “uniforms declared for the exclusive use” of the military and police, which is illegal under Ugandan law.

But Mr. Madoi, his lawyer and many Ugandan supporters online are convinced that he was imprisoned because of his affiliation with Bobi Wine, the opposition leader and singer whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu.

The couple met when Bobi Wine asked Mr Madoi to make him clothes for his concerts and music videos. Their relationship continued when Bobi Wine entered politics: the opposition leader’s signature campaign outfit, a bright red jumpsuit, was designed by Mr Madoi.

Mr Madoi admits he was in possession of military equipment when police raided his school on May 13 – but that the uniform was from the US military.

He told the BBC he was making modifications for his friend who is a Marine serving in the United States.

Despite this uniform, Mr. Madoi says he is certain that the police arrested him because he was making Bobi Wine’s red jumpsuit.

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

“We know we are no longer free. I can’t visit him at home whenever I want, like I used to. We are always afraid of being arrested.”

The BBC has contacted Ugandan authorities for comment.

The country’s security forces have a long history of pursuing political opponents of President Yoweri Museveni.

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

Authorities deny that the arrests were politically motivated and say they were necessary to maintain public order during opposition protests.

On Monday, Bobi Wine announced Mr Madoi’s release to his two million followers on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

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

“It is a shame to see the loss, indignity and humiliation that the regime has inflicted on you since it detained you six weeks ago for offering us your professional services. »

Mr Madoi is due back in court on July 29. Until then, he will try to replace the sewing machines at his school, seized during the search.

“The job is not the same anymore… students don’t have machines on which they can learn, on which we can do demonstrations,” he says.

Mr. Madoi is also working on feeling confident without his dreadlocks and has already managed to identify one advantage.

“I have a 14-year-old daughter…she has never seen me without (my dreadlocks). Maybe she always thought, ‘My father was born like this,'” he laughs.

“That comforted me. Now she gets to see me without hair, looking like any other person. »