Bobi Wine in hiding: Uganda’s opposition leader remains out of public view following a disputed presidential election, amid heightened political tensions and continued uncertainty over the post-vote environment.
Uganda’s opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, widely known as Bobi Wine, remains in hiding days after a disputed presidential election that has plunged the East African nation into deep political crisis. The 43-year-old former musician has not been seen in public since security forces allegedly attempted to raid his home in the early hours following last Thursday’s vote, forcing him to flee and seek protection among supporters.
Speaking to AFP about his situation, Wine admitted he has no fixed strategy for the days ahead. “In a dictatorship, you don’t draw a strategy, but you respond to the kind of oppression,” he said. The remark captures the uncertainty facing an opposition leader operating without institutional protection, legal recourse, or physical security, while remaining under constant threat of arrest or worse.
Wine fled his home in Magere, a suburb of Kampala, on Friday night after learning that security forces were planning an operation against him. “They jumped off my fence and cut off my electricity and the surveillance cameras. I saw it dangerous for me to stay around,” he told the BBC from an undisclosed location. Since then, he has conducted interviews from hiding, appearing in footage wearing a hoodie, his whereabouts known only to a small circle of confidants.
He said he is constantly on the move and being sheltered “by the common people,” a reliance that highlights both his grassroots support and the absence of any meaningful legal safeguards for a major presidential contender. His wife, Barbara Kyagulanyi—popularly known as Barbie—and other family members remain at the Magere residence under what Wine describes as de facto house arrest, with military personnel controlling access to the compound.
The most alarming escalation came from Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda’s army chief and son of President Yoweri Museveni. In a series of public social media posts, Kainerugaba threatened to hunt down and kill Wine unless he surrendered to police within 48 hours, warning that failure to do so would see him treated as a rebel.
Kainerugaba also claimed online that at least 22 members of Wine’s National Unity Platform had been killed in recent days and expressed hope that Wine would become the next victim. These claims could not be independently verified. Nevertheless, their public nature—issued by one of the most powerful figures in Uganda’s security hierarchy—has deepened fears about the climate of impunity surrounding the post-election crackdown.
Wine has responded defiantly to being labelled a terrorist and traitor. “It should be known that in every dictatorship, especially here in Africa, to run against a dictator means being a terrorist, means being a traitor and everything,” he told Al Jazeera in an interview from hiding. He cited the arrest of Catholic priest Father Deusdedit Ssekabira—detained for more than two weeks for working with him—as evidence of a sweeping crackdown on anyone linked to the opposition.
Explaining why he has remained in hiding, Wine told the BBC that threats from the president’s son left him with little choice. “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, suggesting the threats carry real weight given past actions by the security establishment.
Wine has rejected the election results, which handed Museveni 72 percent of the vote against his 25 percent, according to figures announced by Uganda’s Electoral Commission—an institution whose independence has long been questioned by opposition groups. He has refused to challenge the outcome in court, arguing that the judiciary is “captured,” and has instead urged Ugandans to pursue change through peaceful and lawful means.
The election itself has drawn international criticism. The United Nations said the vote was marred by widespread repression and intimidation, while Amnesty International condemned a government-ordered internet blackout imposed days before polling as a serious violation of freedom of expression. Conflicting reports have emerged over election-related deaths, with official figures ranging from seven to 22, while opposition groups claim the toll exceeds 100.
Wine has alleged systematic electoral fraud, claiming he possesses video evidence showing electoral commission officials marking ballots in favour of Museveni. The Electoral Commission has not publicly responded to the allegations. NUP has reported widespread ballot stuffing, intimidation of voters, and the exclusion of party agents from polling stations, leaving many results unverifiable.
Residents around Wine’s Magere home have reported an unusually heavy security presence. A local stall owner told AFP he observed drones and helicopters over the area, along with large numbers of armed personnel. Police spokesman Kituuma Rusoke defended the deployment, saying authorities had “controlled access in areas we feel are security hotspots,” while denying that Wine had been prevented from seeing visitors.
Wine, however, said security forces blocked food deliveries to his family and deployed signal jammers near the home, making communication impossible even after the nationwide internet shutdown was lifted. Authorities have denied raiding the property, with the military dismissing reports of a helicopter operation as “AI-generated” misinformation. Wine’s wife has disputed this account, describing attempts to force entry after cameras were disabled and power cut.
Museveni, 81, has ruled Uganda since 1986 and is now set to extend his tenure until at least 2031. His government has accused opposition figures of attempting to destabilise the country and has repeatedly described critics as terrorists. Rights groups and political analysts say such language has coincided with an increasingly hostile environment for dissent, marked by arrests, military deployments, and restrictions on opposition activity.
The current standoff echoes Uganda’s recent history. Wine was placed under house arrest after disputing the 2021 presidential election results. Veteran opposition leader Kizza Besigye, who ran against Museveni four times, later faced treason charges before a military court in 2024.
As of 22 January 2026, Wine remains in hiding, with no clear resolution in sight. His admission that he has no fixed plan reflects the uncertainty surrounding his political situation. He has remained away from his home, said he does not expect redress through the courts, and has continued to give interviews from undisclosed locations while urging supporters to act peacefully.
For a politician who secured a quarter of the vote in a national election, his continued absence from public view highlights the challenges facing opposition figures in Uganda following the vote.
