The Ugandan military has dismissed reports that security forces arrested leading opposition figure and presidential candidate, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, amid the ongoing collation of results from the country’s 2026 general election.
In a statement on Saturday, the army described claims that the opposition leader was taken from his residence as false and misleading.
“The rumours of his so-called arrest are baseless and unfounded,” army spokesperson, Chris Magezi, said. “Such claims are intended to provoke unrest among his supporters.”
Bobi Wine had earlier announced on social media that he was being confined to his home, while his party, the National Unity Platform, later alleged that he was forcibly removed by soldiers using a military helicopter.
However, the military maintained that no such operation took place.
Journalists who visited the area around Wine’s residence reported a calm atmosphere, although access to information remained limited due to widespread communication disruptions across the country.
A resident, Prince Jerard, said heavy security was noticeable in the neighbourhood on Friday night.
“I heard a helicopter and also noticed a drone in the area,” he said. “Many people have left because there is a lot of fear.”
As of Friday evening, Uganda’s Electoral Commission said more than 80 per cent of the votes had been counted, with President Yoweri Museveni leading with 73.7 per cent, while Wine was trailing with 22.7 per cent.
Final results are expected later on Saturday.
The 81-year-old president, who has been in power since 1986, is seeking to extend his decades-long rule, while Wine, 43, has emerged in recent years as his strongest political challenger.
The opposition candidate has accused the government of widespread electoral malpractice.
“There is massive ballot stuffing and our officials are being attacked under the cover of the internet shutdown,” Wine alleged.
Although these claims could not be independently verified, the United Nations human rights office had earlier warned that the election was being conducted in an atmosphere of intimidation against opposition groups.
There were also reports of violence in some parts of the country, with an opposition lawmaker, Muwanga Kivumbi, alleging that security agents killed 10 of his campaign workers after raiding his home.
“The security forces stormed my house and my agents were killed,” Kivumbi claimed.
The government has not officially responded to the allegation as of the time of filing this report.
