'I am not a criminal': Uganda opposition leader Bobi Wine hits back from hiding
Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine on Wednesday insisted that he was "not a criminal" while still in hiding after escaping what he said was a police raid on his home ahead of last week's presidential election. The country's army chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba – and the son of re-elected President Yoweri Museveni – threatened on Tuesday to hunt down and kill Wine, accusing him of being a "terrorist".
Issued on: 21/01/2026
By: FRANCE 24
Uganda: Africa’s longest-serving leader, Yoweri Museveni, seeks to extend 40-year rule
On Tuesday, Kainerugaba, 51, who has made no secret of his desire to succeed his father, threatened in a post on X to hunt down and kill Wine.
"We have killed 22 NUP terrorists since last week," Kainerugaba wrote, referring to the opposition National Unity Platform led by Wine, who came second in the ballot.
"I'm praying the 23rd is Kabobi," he added, using his nickname for the opposition leader.
In a separate post, Kainerugaba called on Wine to give himself up.
"I am giving him exactly 48 hours to surrender himself to the Police," Kainerugaba wrote. "If he doesn't we will treat him as an outlaw/rebel and handle him accordingly."
Police spokesperson Kituma Rusoke said on Monday night that Wine was not being sought.
Asked about the future for his party, Wine said he did not have a firm plan.
"In a dictatorship, you don't draw a strategy, but you respond to the kind of oppression," he said.
Last week's ballot was marred by violence and an internet shutdown, while African observers said arrests and abductions had "instilled fear".
Museveni, 81, who won a landslide with 72 percent of the vote, has said the opposition are "terrorists" who had tried to use violence to overturn results.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and Reuters)
Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine on Wednesday insisted that he was "not a criminal" while still in hiding after escaping what he said was a police raid on his home ahead of last week's presidential election. The country's army chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba – and the son of re-elected President Yoweri Museveni – threatened on Tuesday to hunt down and kill Wine, accusing him of being a "terrorist".
Issued on: 21/01/2026
By: FRANCE 24
Ugandan presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, with his wife Barbara Kyagulanyi in Kasangati town near Kampala, Uganda, on January 15, 2026. © Thomas Mukoya, Reuters
Uganda's opposition leader Bobi Wine said on Wednesday he was "not a criminal" after going into hiding following last week's election in which President Yoweri Museveni won a seventh term.
Wine, 43, a former singer turned politician who was arrested ahead of Uganda's last election in 2021, said on Saturday that he had escaped a police raid on his home. His whereabouts have been unknown since then.
READ MORE Ugandan opposition denounces army raid on party leader Bobi Wine
He had denounced last Thursday's presidential election as "blatant theft".
In a phone interview, Wine said he was constantly on the move but was being "housed and protected by the common people".
Responding to a threat by Uganda's army chief and Museveni's son Muhoozi Kainerugaba, he said: "I'm not a criminal."
"I'm a presidential candidate and it's not a crime to run against his father," Wine – whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi – said.
Uganda's opposition leader Bobi Wine said on Wednesday he was "not a criminal" after going into hiding following last week's election in which President Yoweri Museveni won a seventh term.
Wine, 43, a former singer turned politician who was arrested ahead of Uganda's last election in 2021, said on Saturday that he had escaped a police raid on his home. His whereabouts have been unknown since then.
READ MORE Ugandan opposition denounces army raid on party leader Bobi Wine
He had denounced last Thursday's presidential election as "blatant theft".
In a phone interview, Wine said he was constantly on the move but was being "housed and protected by the common people".
Responding to a threat by Uganda's army chief and Museveni's son Muhoozi Kainerugaba, he said: "I'm not a criminal."
"I'm a presidential candidate and it's not a crime to run against his father," Wine – whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi – said.
Uganda: Africa’s longest-serving leader, Yoweri Museveni, seeks to extend 40-year rule
© France 24
02:08
02:08
On Tuesday, Kainerugaba, 51, who has made no secret of his desire to succeed his father, threatened in a post on X to hunt down and kill Wine.
"We have killed 22 NUP terrorists since last week," Kainerugaba wrote, referring to the opposition National Unity Platform led by Wine, who came second in the ballot.
"I'm praying the 23rd is Kabobi," he added, using his nickname for the opposition leader.
In a separate post, Kainerugaba called on Wine to give himself up.
"I am giving him exactly 48 hours to surrender himself to the Police," Kainerugaba wrote. "If he doesn't we will treat him as an outlaw/rebel and handle him accordingly."
Police spokesperson Kituma Rusoke said on Monday night that Wine was not being sought.
Asked about the future for his party, Wine said he did not have a firm plan.
"In a dictatorship, you don't draw a strategy, but you respond to the kind of oppression," he said.
Last week's ballot was marred by violence and an internet shutdown, while African observers said arrests and abductions had "instilled fear".
Museveni, 81, who won a landslide with 72 percent of the vote, has said the opposition are "terrorists" who had tried to use violence to overturn results.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and Reuters)
Uganda's army chief, who is also the son of long-serving president Yoweri Museveni, said he wants opposition leader Bobi Wine dead, days after Wine claimed he had been forced into hiding. Wine already survived many attacks on his life since entering politics.
Issued on: 20/01/2026 - RFI
Ugandan presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, of the National Unity Platform (NUP), often wears a bulletproof jacket at his campaign rallies, like here in Kampala, Uganda, on 12 January, 2026. REUTERS - Abubaker Lubowa
General Muhoozi Kainerugaba's comments come after his father, President Yoweri Museveni won an seventh term following general elections on Thursday that was widely criticised by poll observers and rights groups.
The embattled opposition, led by 43-year-old Bobi Wine, real name Robert Kyagulanyi, says they faced violence and intimidation ahead of the vote, with international bodies also accusing the government of "brutal repression".
"We have killed 22 NUP terrorists since last week. I'm praying the 23rd is Kabobi," Kainerugaba posted on social media X late Monday night, referring to Wine and his National Unity Platform (NUP) party.
"As for Kabobi, the permanent loser, I'm giving him exactly 48 hours to surrender himself to the Police. If he doesn't we will treat him as an outlaw/rebel and handle him accordingly," he added in a separate post on X.
General Muhoozi Kainerugaba's comments come after his father, President Yoweri Museveni won an seventh term following general elections on Thursday that was widely criticised by poll observers and rights groups.
The embattled opposition, led by 43-year-old Bobi Wine, real name Robert Kyagulanyi, says they faced violence and intimidation ahead of the vote, with international bodies also accusing the government of "brutal repression".
"We have killed 22 NUP terrorists since last week. I'm praying the 23rd is Kabobi," Kainerugaba posted on social media X late Monday night, referring to Wine and his National Unity Platform (NUP) party.
"As for Kabobi, the permanent loser, I'm giving him exactly 48 hours to surrender himself to the Police. If he doesn't we will treat him as an outlaw/rebel and handle him accordingly," he added in a separate post on X.
Ordeal
The east African country's veteran leader Yoweri Museveni, 81, was declared the landslide winner of the January 15 poll with 71.6 percent of the vote against his opponent Bobi Wine with 24.
Wine, the pop star-turned-politician, and his party, the National Unity Platform (NUP) have rejected the results, alleging widespread irregularities including ballot stuffing, enforced disappearance of polling agents and intimidation by security forces.
Wine's whereabouts remain unknown after he said on Saturday he had escaped a police raid on his home, where his wife remains under apparent house arrest. He says he is in hiding.
Wine criticised Kainerugaba's "threats to kill me" on his own social media and demanded the military vacate the his compound, adding: "My wife and people are not safe."
He also appeared on NTV Uganda on Monday night and accused police of vandalising his home and said leaving his residence would free him "to speak to the world," still not disclosing his location.
The opposition leader had already faced arrest and torture in the run-up to the 2021 election, when he first ran for president.
Growing role
Over 100 members of Uganda's biggest opposition party have also been charged with various offences including unlawful assembly related to violence around last week's election, according to court documents and an opposition official.
In the run-up to polls last week, Kainerugaba, infamous for his colourful tweets and regular threats to behead Wine, was unusually silent on social media, but since his father's win he has returned to posting frequently, often late at night.
It has been said on several occasions that Museveni wants his son to succeed him.
No comments:
Post a Comment