Amid votes tallying process in Uganda, the National Unity Platform (NUP) party announced Friday evening that Their presidential candidate— Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also known as Bobi Wine was forcibly arrested after a day of home raid.
“An army helicopter has landed in President Bobi Wine’s compound and forcibly taken him away to an unknown destination. Regime security operatives deployed at the residence of President Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert have deliberately cut off electricity supply to the home and destroyed the electric fence along the perimeter. President Bobi Wine’s private security guards have been violently assaulted despite having committed no offense. With the residence now under complete darkness, these operatives are attempting to forcibly break into the house, raising grave concerns about their intentions,” the party wrote on X.
A Day Of Siege
Military officers had surrounded Rober’s home in Magere, Wakiso District.
NUP National Treasurer Benjamin Katana called for due process if the state suspects the presidential candidate of any crime.
“He’s under military siege. His home was surrounded by police and the army last evening. He’s not able to interact with agents. His home is not a gazetted detention facility. If he has committed any crime, there’s due process. He can be arrested, arraigned in court and dealt with in accordance with the law. But because he has not committed any crime and institutions of the state are unfortunately being dragged into partisan politics on the side of the incumbent, they now must find ways of undermining his ability to do what is within his right as a candidate or citizen of this country,” he said.
One of Bobi Wine’s bodyguards was reportedly killed during the Friday operation.
More Deaths
At least 12 people have been reported dead and many injured during violence which erupted during and after elections across various districts in Central Uganda and Kampala.
Latest deaths were reported at Butambala district where Seven people suspected to be supporters of the incumbent MP, Muhammed Muwanga Kivumbi were shot dead by police on the night of Thursday.
During the incident, three people sustained gunshot wounds.
UP Condemnation Of Authoritarianism
President Yoweri Museveni, 81, is seeking to extend his rule beyond four decades as the opposition reports “widespread ballot stuffing” and arrest of their senior members.
“The world needs to know what is happening in Uganda on Election Day. The Internet switched off. Massive ballot stuffing is reported everywhere. Our leaders, including the Deputy President for Western Region, arrested. Many of our polling agents and supervisors abducted, and others chased off polling stations. BVVK machines have failed everywhere. The people of Uganda must rise to the occasion and reject the criminal regime. The world must never give any legitimacy to the regime of blood and shame,” Mr Kyagulanyi said in a social media post.
Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke told journalists he was not aware of Mr Kyagulanyi being placed under house arrest.
2021 Detention
Security forces confined Mr Kyagulanyi to his home for days after the last election in 2021, in which he was credited with 35% of the vote.
The United States said that the election was neither free nor fair, a charge rejected by Ugandan authorities.
The UN human rights office said last week that this year’s election was being held in an environment of “widespread repression and intimidation”.Security forces repeatedly opened fire at Mr Kyagulanyi’s rallies, killing at least two people, and arrested hundreds of his supporters.
The government said it was responding to lawless behaviour. A Museveni win would hand the former rebel leader a seventh term in office. He is widely believed to favour his son, military chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba, as his successor, though he has denied grooming Kainerugaba for the role.
Gov’t Denies House Arrest
The Ugandan government had denied claims that opposition leader Bobi Wine has been placed under house arrest following the elections.
Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke said Wine is being protected because he is “not an ordinary citizen,” adding that police presence outside his home and restrictions on his movement are for security reasons.
The dispute comes as early election results show President Yoweri Museveni leading by a wide margin as he seeks to extend his nearly four-decade rule.
The vote followed a tense campaign marked by internet shutdowns, technical problems at polling stations, and allegations of repression.
