A prominent Ugandan fashion designer who cut off his dreadlocks after his arrest told the BBC he plans to grow them back “as long as I live.”
Latif Madoi, who has made clothes for celebrities including South African reggae singer Lucky Dube and Jamaican singer Busy Signal, has been detained for more than six weeks.
Although he was not convicted of any crime, prison authorities nevertheless insisted on cutting the dreadlocks he had grown out for 17 years.
He was released on Monday on bail of 1 million Ugandan shillings (213 pounds, $269).
Mr Madoy told the BBC after settling in his hometown that he was “heartbroken” to lose his beloved Locke.
He said he begged the guard in charge to keep them and to let them “weep” when they were cut.
“I think of my dreadlocks as my crown,” he said, adding that he was known for his dreadlocks and now he looks just like everyone else.
He said that despite losing a big part of his identity, his “heart is not changed.”
The 47-year-old was famous for performing “fashion concerts” where she created 10 to 15 dresses in just two hours.
But now that he doesn't have dreadlocks, he says, “I'm shy… I don't think I can go anywhere. I might even get embarrassed going on stage.”
Police raided his fashion school and said the military and police arrested him for possessing “uniforms declared exclusive use”, which is illegal under Ugandan law.
But Mr Madoi, his lawyers and many of his Ugandan supporters online are convinced he is behind bars because of his relationship with opposition leader and singer Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu.
