Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine has demanded the immediate withdrawal of military personnel he says have surrounded and taken control of his home.
“We demand that the military vacate our home immediately,” he said.
“My wife and people are not safe. They’re starving after they blocked food from reaching them. They cut the padlocks of our gates and replaced them with chains.”
Wine described the situation as unsafe and unlawful, accusing security agencies of targeting his family and violating their basic rights.
Wine had on Friday said military and police forces raided his home in Magere overnight, but he managed to flee, allaying widespread fears that he had been taken captive and was being held in an unknown location.
In a statement on Saturday, he described the night operation as a coordinated security raid involving power cuts, interference with CCTV cameras and helicopters hovering above his residence.
“Last night (Friday night) was very difficult at our home in Magere. The military and police raided us. They switched off power and cut off some of our CCTV cameras. There were helicopters hovering over,” Wine said.
“I want to confirm that I escaped from them. Currently, I am not at home, although my wife and other family members remain under house arrest,” he said, adding that the security forces were looking for him everywhere.
He also shared photos of the alleged military raid, alleging that some were taken Friday night and others Saturday morning.
Ugandan police however dismissed the reports, terming the claims misleading.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Kituuma Rusoke said the allegations were “deceitful and inciteful and intended to depict the security agencies as brutal and violators of the rights of a political candidate.”
Earlier on, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba issued a public ultimatum to Wine, to surrender to the police within 48 hours.
Muhoozi said he was “giving [Bobi Wine] exactly 48 hours to surrender himself to the Police,” adding that failure to do so would lead to him being treated “as an outlaw or rebel.”
Wine fired back, dismissing claims that authorities were not pursuing him, saying Muhoozi’s ultimatum contradicted earlier denials.
He accused the security establishment of committing “atrocities against the people of Uganda,” saying he would “resurface” on his own terms.
“Anyway, I will resurface when I decide. Then you and your father can do whatever you want to me. But make no mistake – You will never escape the inevitable consequences of your atrocities against the people of Uganda. This is our country!” Wine said.
The political tension in Uganda has heightened following elections on January 15, 2026.
by SHARON MWENDE
