Bobi Wine, Uganda’s opposition leader, has announced he will not challenge the results of last Thursday’s presidential election in court, citing a lack of faith in the judiciary.
Speaking to the BBC while in hiding, he urged citizens to exercise their constitutional right to protest peacefully against the outcome.
Wine said he remains committed to opposing President Yoweri Museveni despite mounting risks to his personal safety.
"The judiciary in Uganda is captured and we encourage Ugandans to use any legal means to fight back and protect their democracy," the 43-year-old former musician told the BBC.
Museveni, 81, was declared the winner with 72 percent of the vote, while Wine received 25 percent. The president accused opposition forces of plotting to overturn the results through violent means, labeling them as terrorists.
Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, rejected the election figures as fake and alleged ballot manipulation, without presenting evidence. He said the official numbers did not match those recorded at polling stations.
"We reject those results because they are fake and they don't in any way reflect the voting pattern. They are completely different from the results in the electoral on the polling stations and on the declaration forms," Wine said from an undisclosed location.
He also criticized security forces for blocking food supplies to his home, where his wife and relatives were confined. Wine said he fled the house, located in a Kampala suburb, on Friday night after a raid by security personnel.
"They jumped off my fence and cut off my electricity and the surveillance cameras. I saw it dangerous for me to stay around," he said.
Authorities have not commented on Wine’s accusations. The Uganda Human Rights Commission, however, said that technical and procedural challenges during voting did not compromise the overall fairness of the election.
Observers from the African Union found no evidence of ballot stuffing but criticized the internet shutdown that lasted several days and was lifted only hours after Museveni was declared the winner.
Wine had also contested Museveni’s victory in 2021 but withdrew the petition, citing bias in the courts. This marks his second unsuccessful presidential bid.
He accused authorities of carrying out a silent campaign of repression against political activists, claiming that over 100 people had been killed during election-related violence, though he did not provide proof.
Local reports indicate more than 100 youths have been detained on charges linked to the elections across Kampala.
Uganda’s army chief Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, also Museveni’s son, said that 22 opposition supporters were killed during the poll-related unrest. He warned Wine to surrender within 48 hours or be treated as a rebel.
"If he doesn't we will treat him as an outlaw/rebel and handle him accordingly," he said.
Wine said the threats forced him to leave his home.
"You have heard Museveni's son promising to harm me. He has promised to harm people and... he has delivered to it. You have read his recent tweets. That's why I have to be careful with myself," he said.
Despite the internet being restored late Saturday, Wine said signal jammers prevented him from contacting his wife. Police denied raiding his home, saying the deployment was meant to protect him as a presidential candidate.
Wine called for a peaceful transition and encouraged citizens to defend democracy through lawful channels.
"We encourage Ugandans to evoke any constitutional means to fight back," he said.
Kampala police chief Donald Muhwezi said authorities are not concerned about Wine’s location as long as he remains safe.
In his victory speech, Museveni said the results confirmed his party’s dominance. Museveni first came to power in 1986 and has won seven elections. Uganda has never experienced a peaceful transfer of presidential power since independence.
