Gambiaj.com – (KAMPALA, Uganda) – Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine has said he went into hiding after an army raid on his home and accused authorities of placing his family under house arrest, as tensions escalated following the country’s disputed presidential election.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with DW from an undisclosed location, Bobi Wine—real name Robert Kyagulanyi—said his safety and that of his family were under imminent threat, prompting him to flee. He alleged that soldiers acting on the orders of Uganda’s army chief, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, targeted him following last week’s vote, which he insists he won.
“I hid after an army raid on my house, carried out on the orders of the head of the defense forces, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is none other than the son of Museveni,” Bobi Wine said, referring to President Yoweri Museveni, whom he challenged in the election. “We learned that the soldiers had come with the intention of harming me. No institution in Uganda could ensure my safety.”
Bobi Wine further claimed that his wife and children are effectively under siege at their home. According to him, the family is surrounded by security forces, barred from leaving or receiving visitors, and struggling to access food.
“They are under house arrest. No one has the right to leave; no one has the right to enter,” he said, adding that provisions brought to the family were turned away by soldiers.
The opposition leader’s remarks came amid international concern over post-election violence. On Friday, Uganda’s army commander and president’s son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, welcomed what he described as the killing of 30 opposition members and the arrest of 2,000 of their supporters.
The European Union has condemned the violence and said the electoral process was marred by serious irregularities.
Despite disputing the outcome of the vote, Bobi Wine said he does not intend to challenge the results in court, arguing that Uganda’s judiciary lacks independence. He cited the recent appointment of a new chief justice by President Museveni as evidence of political interference.
“We have no confidence in the courts in Uganda. The courts serve the system; they serve the regime,” he said. “Museveni appoints a new head of justice to judge a case in which he himself is implicated.”
Instead, Bobi Wine called on Ugandans to resist President Museveni’s rule through non-violent and lawful means, including civil disobedience. “Our trust is in the people of Uganda,” he said, urging citizens to take collective responsibility for political change.
Throughout the campaign, he added, he encouraged supporters to rally behind the national flag rather than his image. “Each of us has equal responsibility in the liberation of this country,” Bobi Wine said.
Uganda has been ruled by President Museveni since 1986, and elections under his leadership have repeatedly been criticised by opposition groups and international observers for repression, violence, and restrictions on political freedoms.
With Deutsche Welle
