Ugandan opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, widely known as Bobi Wine, says security forces have escalated their actions by taking full control of his Magere residence, days after he raised alarm over heavy military presence at the property.
In a post shared on X on Tuesday, the National Unity Platform leader said soldiers moved in overnight on Monday, occupying the house itself, the compound and the surrounding area. He said the takeover marked a sharp shift from earlier operations that had largely restricted movement and access.
“Last night, the military surrounding our home in Magere once again forced themselves into the house. They’re now fully occupying our entire home – INSIDE, outside, and around it,” Wine said.
The development comes amid heightened tensions following the recent re-election of President Yoweri Museveni, after which Wine said he was forced into hiding.
In previous statements, he had reported intimidation and interference at his home but stopped short of saying the house had been fully taken over.
Earlier, Wine accused armed officers of breaking into the compound, cutting off access by replacing padlocks with chains, threatening family members and blocking food and other basic supplies from reaching the home. He described those actions as hostile but said at the time that the military had not completely occupied the residence.
On Tuesday, Wine said the continued presence of armed men has made it impossible for his family to return to the property or determine what damage was caused during the initial break-in late last month.
“We are still unable to assess the extent of the destruction caused to the house when they first broke it and vandalised it on 23rd January,” Wine said.
“Neither have we been able to take stock of what items and documents the armed men seized from the house, since none of our family members has ever been allowed to access it since the attack happened.”
The situation has also drawn a response from the Uganda Law Society, which last week demanded the immediate removal of officers from the Magere residence. The lawyers’ body said the deployment violates a 2021 High Court ruling that barred security agencies from restricting access to the home.
In a letter to Inspector General of Police Abbas Byakagaba, copied to the Attorney General and the Minister of Internal Affairs, the group said the continued presence of police and military officers infringes on Kyagulanyi’s constitutional rights, including freedom of movement and personal liberty.
“ULS therefore calls upon your office to immediately withdraw all police personnel deployed at the Magere residence, cease any unlawful restriction on access, and ensure full compliance with the High Court decision and constitutional standards,” the lawyers group said.
Despite the demand, Wine says armed personnel remain in full control of the residence, with no access granted to his family, as concerns continue to grow over the treatment of opposition figures in Uganda.
