Opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, widely known as Bobi Wine, says he narrowly escaped a security operation at his home in Magere overnight, leaving his wife and other family members reportedly confined inside.
In a statement on his X account, he described power cuts, disabled CCTV cameras, and helicopters hovering over the residence, which he said forced him to leave for his safety.
“I want to confirm that I managed to escape from them. Currently, I am not at home, although my wife and other family members remain under house arrest. I know that these criminals are looking for me everywhere, and I am trying my best to keep safe,” Kyagulanyi said.
He attributed confusion about his whereabouts to a nationwide internet blackout and the restricted access to his home, which prompted neighbors to spread rumors that he had been abducted. Bobi Wine emphasized that the reports of his detention were false and reflected the tense circumstances rather than actual events.
Bobi Wine also reiterated his rejection of the official election results, calling the process illegal and marred by fraud. “In addition to the ballot stuffing, the military take-over of the election, the detention of our leaders and polling officials, and other electoral offences, their results have zero backing!” he said.
He condemned the deaths of citizens who had tried to demonstrate peacefully and asserted that Ugandans have a right to defend their choice of government. “The people of Uganda have the right to protest in defence of their sovereign right to determine a government of their choice – not the kind of criminality we’re witnessing,” he said.
He also alleged that candidates from his National Unity Platform were being unfairly targeted, even in constituencies where evidence showed they had won. “This is absolute madness,” he added.
Ugandan authorities, however, rejected claims circulating online that Bobi Wine had been removed from his home or abducted. Police described the reports as false, misleading, and unnecessarily alarming to the public.
In a video message, a police spokesperson addressed the issue after the claims gained traction online. “I would like to issue a statement on behalf of the Uganda Police Force in respect to allegations that are making rounds on some media spaces,” the spokesperson said.
“They have also found their way to other communities that have access to social media platforms, especially outside our jurisdiction.”
The spokesperson further clarified that the opposition leader had not been arrested or moved to an unknown location. “The allegations are being made that Bobi Wine, who is a presidential candidate, has been arrested and taken to an unknown location,” he said. “Some of these allegations are being paraded by his family members.”
Police added that the claims were aimed at portraying the country’s security agencies as abusive during a sensitive political period. “What I would like to say is these are deceitful and inciteful allegations intended to depict the security agencies of Uganda as brutal and violators of the rights of a political candidate,” the spokesperson said. “They are untrue and unfounded.” Authorities did not provide additional information about Bobi Wine’s security or exact location.
Bobi Wine has previously accused government security forces of harassment and intimidation, allegations repeatedly denied by officials. Reports indicated that his son had claimed both parents had been seized by the military, which heightened public concern.
Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke had earlier described Bobi Wine as “a person of interest” and said the heavy security presence at his home was intended to protect him.
As vote counting continued on Friday, President Yoweri Museveni was leading, with the Electoral Commission reporting 73.7 percent support versus 22.7 percent for Bobi Wine, with nearly 81 percent of votes tallied. The final results were expected later on Saturday in Kampala.
The election period had witnessed clashes at opposition rallies and arrests of opposition supporters, though Thursday’s voting largely went smoothly. Violence, however, erupted overnight in Butambala, roughly 55 kilometres southwest of Kampala, where at least seven people were reported killed.
