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Uganda’s opposition leader, Bobi Wine, has accused security forces of violently raiding his home and assaulting his wife, leaving her hospitalised, amid heightened tensions following the country’s disputed presidential election.
In a statement released on Saturday as reported by Reuters, Wine said soldiers stormed his residence in the Magere suburb of northern Kampala overnight, breaking down doors and beating members of his staff.
The pop star-turned-politician was not present at the time and remains in hiding after narrowly escaping a previous raid on his home last week.
According to Wine, soldiers held his wife, Barbara Kyagulanyi, at gunpoint and demanded she disclose his whereabouts.
He alleged that when she refused to unlock her phone, she was choked, verbally abused, and partially undressed.
“They grabbed my wife’s phone, forced her to sit down, and ordered her to remove her password. She refused. They strangled her and insulted her. They forcefully removed her blouse and took pictures. My wife was rushed to hospital where she remains admitted,” Wine said in a post on X.
The incident comes days after President Yoweri Museveni, 81, was declared the winner of the January 15 presidential election with 71.6% of the vote, extending his four-decade rule.
Bobi Wine, who officially placed second with 24%, has rejected the results, alleging widespread electoral fraud, including ballot stuffing.
Uganda’s military chief, Muhoozi Kainerugaba — who is also Museveni’s son — has warned Wine to surrender to police, threatening that he would otherwise be treated as a rebel.
On Thursday, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed concern over reports of arrests and violence targeting opposition figures and their supporters following the election.
Human rights groups and opposition leaders have long accused President Museveni’s government of using the military and security agencies to suppress dissent and maintain power.
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