Uganda’s opposition party, the National Unity Platform (NUP), on Friday night reported that its leader, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, was forcibly taken by the military.
In a statement on January 16, NUP claimed that Uganda’s security operatives deliberately cut off electricity to the residence and destroyed the electric fence along the perimeter.
The party said the incident occurred at Bobi Wine’s family residence, where a military helicopter reportedly landed within the compound.
“Regime security operatives deployed at the residence of President Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert have deliberately cut off electricity supply to the home and destroyed the electric fence along the perimeter,” read part of the statement.
The party alleged that Bobi Wine’s private security guards were violently assaulted despite having committed no offense.
With the home plunged into darkness, NUP said the operatives attempted to forcibly break into the house. In an update on Saturday, January 17, morning, Bobi Wine’s son, Solomon Kampala, said his father “managed to escape” during the raid.
“Amidst the raid, my father was able to escape, my mother is still currently under arrest, still nobody is allowed to enter the house,” stated Solomon Kampala.
The Spokesperson of the Ugandan Police Force, Kituuma Rusoke, also denied reports that Bobi Wine was captured by authorities.
“The allegations that Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu has been arrested and taken to an unknown location are deceitful, untrue, and unfounded,” stated Kituuma Rusoke in a press briefing on Saturday morning.
Bobi Wine’s Home Remains Under Heavy Military Security
Earlier, NUP treasurer Benjamin Katana had claimed that the home of its presidential candidate, Bobi Wine, was under military and police siege.
The official alleged that Kyagulanyi’s residence was surrounded by security forces since Thursday evening, preventing him from interacting with his agents.
“The man is under military siege. His home was surrounded by the army and police last evening. He’s not able to interact with his agents,” he said.
The development was later confirmed by Bobi Wine, who wrote on his X platform that he was under house arrest following the casting of his ballot.
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He said his residence was under an ongoing military siege, with movement in and out of the home restricted.
According to Wine, security personnel escalated their actions by forcibly entering his property.
He added that the security presence remained in place, effectively cutting him off from the outside world.
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Several Killed as Clashes Break Out After Uganda Elections
According to Ugandan police, at least seven people have been killed in central Uganda amid post-election violence.
The authorities said that the violence involved groups they described as opposition supporters armed with machetes, who allegedly attacked a police station and a vote-tallying centre.
Police spokesperson Lydia Tumushabe said officers responded in what she termed self-defence after the attackers arrived in large numbers.
She added that at least 25 people were arrested during the incident.
However, a contrasting account was given by Muwanga Kivumbi, a member of parliament from the National Unity Platform (NUP) representing the Butambala area in central Uganda.
Kivumbi said security forces raided his home after voting had concluded, where hundreds of his supporters had gathered.
He claimed that 10 people were killed inside his residence during the operation.
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