In a harrowing account that underscores the perilous aftermath of Uganda’s elections, opposition leader Bobi Wine claimed Saturday that he narrowly escaped a military and police raid on his home, alleging his family is now under house arrest as veteran President Yoweri Museveni consolidates an overwhelming victory.
The former pop star, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, detailed the alleged night-time raid in a post on X. “Last night was very difficult at our home … The military and the police raided us. They switched off power and cut off some of our CCTV cameras,” he wrote. “I want to confirm I managed to escape from them. Currently, I am not at home.”
A Midnight Raid and Contradictory Narratives
Wine’s dramatic claim directly contradicts the official state narrative. Just hours before his post, national police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke told reporters that Wine was at home and “not under arrest.” This stark divergence paints a picture of a state either completely out of touch with its own security operations or engaged in a deliberate campaign of disinformation.
The raid allegation follows an even more alarming claim from Wine’s National Unity Platform (NUP) on Friday night, which stated an army helicopter had landed in his compound and “forcibly took him away to an unknown destination.” Wine’s escape claim suggests he either evaded this initial abduction or that a second security operation was launched to find him after he went into hiding.
Wine did not disclose his whereabouts, stating only that he was no longer at home and that his wife and other family members were being held under house arrest—a claim Reuters could not immediately verify. People close to the opposition leader said he remained “at large” within Uganda, transforming the political figure into a fugitive in his own country, hunted by the state he sought to lead.
This personal crisis unfolds as the electoral commission declares a commanding, near-final victory for the 81-year-old Museveni, who has ruled since 1986. With over 90% of votes counted, Museveni leads with nearly 72%, compared to Wine’s 24%. Wine has rejected the results, alleging mass fraud in an election held under a nationwide internet blackout, and has urged his supporters to protest.
Why It Matters
The alleged targeting of Wine is not an isolated incident but part of a violent post-election crackdown. In the town of Butambala, deadly violence erupted in the early hours of Friday. Police and local MP Muwanga Kivumbi provided wildly conflicting accounts: police claimed “machete-wielding opposition goons” attacked a station, leading to seven deaths, while Kivumbi alleged a “massacre” by security forces who broke into his house and shot ten of his supporters dead in his garage.
These events: a top opposition leader fleeing a raid, his family detained, and supporters reportedly massacred, create a cohesive narrative of a regime using every tool of state security to crush dissent after an election whose legitimacy is fiercely contested. Bobi Wine’s escape is a symbol of the extreme dangers facing anyone who challenges Museveni’s four-decade grip on power.
