In the wake of a contentious election that extended President Yoweri Museveni’s decades-long rule, Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine has claimed that his wife was held “at gunpoint” after “hundreds of soldiers” raided the couple’s home.
The incident comes just days after Museveni was declared the winner of the 14 January presidential poll, which has been marred by allegations of ballot-rigging and voter intimidation. Wine, a popular musician-turned-politician, had mounted a strong challenge to Museveni’s 35-year grip on power, but ultimately fell short in the vote.
In a series of posts on his verified Twitter account, Wine alleged that soldiers had “raided” his home and “arrested” his wife, Barbara Itungo Kyagulanyi. “She is currently held at gunpoint in our home,” he wrote, condemning the “military siege” of their residence.
The claims have not been independently verified, but they come amid growing concerns over the Ugandan government’s crackdown on dissent in the aftermath of the election. Dozens of people were killed in protests before the vote, while Wine himself was repeatedly arrested and his campaign events disrupted by security forces.
In a statement, the Ugandan military acknowledged that soldiers had been deployed to Wine’s home, but insisted they were there to provide “security” and “ensure calm” in the area. The statement did not address the specific allegations made by Wine regarding his wife’s detention.
When contacted by The Update Desk, a spokesperson for the Ugandan government declined to comment on the incident, stating that they were “unable to verify the claims at this time.”
The escalating tensions in Uganda have drawn international condemnation, with the United States and European Union, among others, criticising the government’s heavy-handed response to the opposition. The European Union, which had observers monitoring the election, has described the vote as falling “short of democratic benchmarks.”
For his part, Museveni has dismissed the criticisms, insisting that the election was free and fair. In his victory speech, he vowed to continue his “patriotic” work in leading the East African nation.
However, the allegations made by Wine, if proven true, will only serve to further undermine the credibility of the electoral process and deepen the political crisis in Uganda. As the country navigates this turbulent period, the world will be watching closely to see how the government responds to the growing calls for accountability and respect for human rights.