A Ugandan model fashion designer whose dreadlocks have been decrease off nearest he used to be arrested has informed the BBC he plans to develop them again “for as long as [he] lives”.

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

He has no longer been convicted of any crime however the jail government however insisted on slicing the dreadlocks he were rising for 17 years.

On Monday he used to be excepted on bail for a million Ugandan shillings (£213; $269).

Nearest settling in again house, Mr Madoi informed the BBC that shedding his loved locs “was his breaking-point”.

The 47-year-old used to be identified for appearing “fashion concerts” the place he would construct 10 to fifteen clothes in simply two hours.

However now, with out the dreadlocks that have been a key a part of his Rastafarian identification, he feels “shy… like I can’t visit places. Maybe I’ll even feel shy coming back on stage”.

Police stated they raided his model faculty and arrested him for possessing “uniforms declared to be for the exclusive use” of the army and police, which is against the law beneath Ugandan regulation.

However Mr Madoi, his legal professional and diverse Ugandan supporters on-line are satisfied he used to be locked up for his association 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 construct him some garments for his concert events and song movies. Their courting endured when Bobi Wine entered politics – the opposition chief’s signature campaigning outfit, a couple of glorious pink overalls, have been designed through Mr Madoi.

Mr Madoi accepts that he used to be in ownership of army tools when police raided his faculty on 13 Would possibly – however that that uniform used to be from the United States military.

He tells the BBC he used to be making alterations for his buddy who’s a serving marine in america.

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

“There’s no other reason. Everyone who is affiliated with Bobi Wine will always be arrested,” he says.

“We know we are not free any more. I cannot visit him at his home any time I want, like I used to. You always fear that maybe you will get arrested.”

The BBC has approached the Ugandan government for remark.

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

Bobi Wine, these days the president’s greatest rival, has been arrested diverse occasions and confronted a number of fees, together with treason, all of which he denies.

The government reject the arrests were political and say they have got been important to preserve regulation and form throughout opposition protests.

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

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

“It’s a shame what loss, indignity and humiliation the regime has subjected you to since it detained you 6 weeks ago for having offered us your professional services.”

Mr Madoi is due again in court docket on 29 July. Between now and nearest, he’s going to be seeking to exchange his faculty’s stitching machines, which have been seized within the raid.

“The business is not the same… students have no machines where they can learn from, where we can make demonstrations from,” he says.

Mr Madoi could also be operating on feeling assured with out his dreadlocks and has already controlled to spot an upside.

“I have a daughter… she has never seen me without [dreadlocks]. Maybe she was always thinking: ‘My dad was born like that’,” he laughs.

“That’s comforted me – now she has the chance to see me without hair, looking like any other person.”