MWE Correspondent
Uganda’s leading opposition figure, Robert Kyagulanyi, widely known as Bobi Wine, has confirmed that he is currently in hiding, citing serious fears for his personal safety following the country’s disputed general election.
In a rare interview with international media, the opposition leader said he is being sheltered by ordinary citizens in undisclosed locations, as political pressure and security threats against opposition figures intensify.
Bobi Wine said his decision to go into hiding followed what he described as credible threats to his life. He linked the danger to rising hostility from senior figures within the state, including President Yoweri Museveni and the president’s son, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who serves as head of Uganda’s armed forces. According to the opposition leader, the climate has become so hostile that remaining in public view would put his life at immediate risk.
While Bobi Wine remains out of sight, he said his family has effectively been placed under house arrest for more than a week. He claimed security forces have restricted their movement and cut off communication with the outside world, preventing them from leaving their home or receiving visitors. Rights groups say such measures, if confirmed, would raise serious concerns about violations of civil liberties and due process.
The opposition leader also drew attention to the continued detention of veteran opposition politician Kizza Besigye, who remains in custody despite reports of deteriorating health. Besigye, a long-time critic of the government, has been arrested multiple times over the years, and his current condition has renewed calls from activists and medical professionals for his release on humanitarian grounds.
Political tensions in Uganda have escalated sharply since the January 15, 2026, election, which extended President Yoweri Museveni’s rule into a seventh term. The opposition has rejected the results, alleging widespread fraud, voter intimidation, and heavy military involvement in the electoral process. Several international observers have also raised concerns about the credibility of the vote, pointing to restrictions on opposition campaigning and the arrest of critics.
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Adding to the volatility are controversial remarks attributed to General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who has been widely viewed as a potential successor to his father. Analysts say public threats against opposition figures, combined with official branding of critics as “terrorists,” could create justification for harsher crackdowns and further shrink Uganda’s political space.
Human rights organizations warn that Uganda is entering a particularly dangerous phase, where dissent is increasingly criminalized and opposition leaders face growing personal risk. They argue that labeling political opponents as security threats undermines democratic norms and may embolden security forces to act with impunity.
Bobi Wine, a former musician turned politician, rose to prominence as a symbol of generational change and political reform in Uganda. His political movement has attracted strong support among young voters frustrated by unemployment, corruption, and long-standing one-man rule. His decision to speak out while in hiding underscores, analysts say, the depth of the current crisis.
As Uganda navigates the aftermath of another contested election, attention is once again focused on the country’s democratic future and respect for human rights. For now, Bobi Wine says his priority is survival, even as he vows to continue pushing for political change, accountability, and what he describes as a peaceful transition toward genuine democracy.
