Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine has alleged that his wife was hospitalised after soldiers raided their home, assaulted her, and held her at gunpoint while demanding to know his whereabouts.
Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, made the claim in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, saying the incident occurred while he was away from home.
According to him, a large number of soldiers stormed his residence and subjected his wife to physical and psychological abuse.
“Hundreds of soldiers raided our home in my absence,” Wine wrote.
“They put my wife at gunpoint, asking her to reveal my whereabouts. They strangled her and insulted her.”
He added that his wife was rushed to the hospital following the incident.
“My wife was taken to the hospital, where she remains admitted, dealing with both physical injuries and psychological trauma,” he said.
Wine has been in hiding since January 15, following Uganda’s presidential election in which President Yoweri Museveni, 81, was declared winner with 71.65 per cent of the vote. Wine, who secured 24.72 per cent, rejected the outcome, describing it as “blatant theft.”
The election was widely criticised by observers and civil society groups, who cited pre- and post-election violence, an internet shutdown, and the repression of opposition supporters.
Following the polls, Wine’s legal team raised concerns over threats to his life, calling on the international community to intervene.
“We urgently call on the United Nations and the international community to demand immediate and verifiable guarantees of Mr Wine’s safety,” said Robert Amsterdam, one of his lawyers.
“Mr Wine has committed no crime. His only offence is exposing the brutal and dictatorial nature of President Museveni’s rule through peaceful political opposition.”
Tensions escalated further after Uganda’s army chief and Museveni’s son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, posted threats against Wine on X, vowing to hunt him down. The post was later deleted.
Kainerugaba also claimed that security forces had killed and arrested members of Wine’s party, the National Unity Platform, referring to them as “terrorists.”
The European Union expressed concern over the situation, condemning threats and violence against opposition figures.
Similarly, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he was closely monitoring developments in Uganda.
“I am following with concern the post-election situation, including reports of arrests, detentions, and violent incidents involving opposition figures and their supporters,” Guterres said.
