Kampala, Uganda – In a dramatic turn of events, Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine has claimed to have narrowly escaped a police and army raid on his home just hours before incumbent President Yoweri Museveni was declared the winner of the country’s hotly contested election.
Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, stated that security forces surrounded his residence in the capital city of Kampala in the early hours of Friday morning. The 38-year-old musician-turned-politician asserted that he managed to avoid capture, but several of his staff were allegedly arrested during the incident.
“The military has been deployed to my house, and my security guards have been disarmed,” Wine said in a video posted to social media. “I am under siege. I am not allowed to leave my house.”
The claims come as the 81-year-old Museveni, who has ruled Uganda for 35 years, was announced the victor with 58.6% of the vote. Wine, who garnered 34.8%, has rejected the results, alleging widespread fraud and voter intimidation.
In a press conference, Wine stated that Thursday’s election was “the most fraudulent election in the history of Uganda” and vowed to pursue legal action. International observers from the European Union have also raised concerns about the integrity of the poll.
Ugandan authorities have denied Wine’s allegations, with military spokeswoman Brigadier Flavia Byekwaso dismissing the raid claims as “propaganda.” However, the US and other Western nations have condemned the reported violence and restrictions on opposition candidates and independent monitors during the electoral process.
The tense standoff between the government and the opposition threatens to further destabilise a country that has seen sporadic unrest in the lead-up to the vote. Museveni, who first took power in 1986, has been accused of increasingly authoritarian tendencies, while Wine has emerged as a symbol of youthful opposition to the veteran leader’s rule.
As the political crisis unfolds, concerns are mounting about the potential for widespread civil unrest in the East African nation. Analysts warn that the disputed outcome could deepen Uganda’s longstanding divisions and undermine the country’s democratic institutions.
