Uganda’s political tensions intensified after opposition figure Robert Kyagulanyi, widely known as Bobi Wine, reported that armed security forces stormed his family residence in Magere during the early hours of Saturday, leaving his wife injured and the property badly damaged.
In a series of emotional posts shared online, Kyagulanyi said hundreds of soldiers, including members of elite units and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces, forced their way into the home using ladders and heavy tools, smashing doors and windows as they searched for him. The opposition leader, who has remained in hiding following Uganda’s disputed elections, described the operation as violent and terrifying.
According to Kyagulanyi, the soldiers confronted his wife, Barbie Kyagulanyi, holding a gun to her head while demanding she reveal his whereabouts. He alleged that when she refused, she was physically assaulted, verbally abused and humiliated. The opposition leader said she was later rushed to hospital suffering from injuries and severe psychological trauma.
“My wife is receiving treatment after being brutally attacked in our home,” Kyagulanyi wrote. “They wanted to force her to betray me, but instead they chose violence.”
He further claimed that household staff and security guards were beaten as soldiers searched every room, including what they believed was an underground hiding space. During the raid, he said, large sums of money, important documents, mobile phones, laptops, internet equipment and security cameras were seized or destroyed.
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The incident comes amid heightened political unrest following Uganda’s recent elections, which Kyagulanyi and his party, the National Unity Platform, have strongly rejected, accusing authorities of widespread intimidation, electoral fraud and suppression of opposition voices.
Human rights groups and legal organizations within Uganda have expressed deep concern over the reported raid, warning that such actions undermine constitutional rights and further erode democratic space in the country. Several activists have called for an independent investigation into the conduct of the security forces and protection for political leaders and their families.
So far, government and military officials have not issued a detailed response to the latest allegations. In previous incidents, authorities have denied targeting Kyagulanyi or placing him under house arrest, describing opposition claims as exaggerated or misleading.
Political analysts say the reported raid reflects a broader pattern of escalating pressure on opposition figures in Uganda, particularly during election periods. They warn that continued use of force risks deepening public anger and drawing international scrutiny.
For many Ugandans, the images and testimonies emerging from Magere have become a symbol of the growing struggle over political freedom in the country. As calls for accountability mount, the nation now watches closely to see whether authorities will address the allegations or whether tensions will continue to spiral.
