Kampala, Uganda – Uganda’s military has denied claims that opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, was abducted from his home amid a tense and disputed election.
Wine, leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP), said on Friday that security forces had placed him under house arrest. His party later reported on social media platform X that he had been forcibly taken from his residence in an army helicopter, though the Ugandan military called the reports “baseless and unfounded.”
“They are designed to incite his supporters into acts of violence,” said army spokesperson Chris Magezi in a statement to AFP.
Election Context and Voting
The presidential election on Thursday, January 15, was held under heightened security and an ongoing internet blackout, making information about voting and election-day incidents difficult to verify.
- Bobi Wine cast his vote alongside his wife at a polling station in Kampala, Uganda’s capital.
- Longtime President Yoweri Museveni, 81, is seeking to extend his nearly four-decade rule, claiming ahead of the election that he expected 80 percent support.
- Early results from the Electoral Commission showed Museveni leading with 73.7%, while Wine had 22.7%, with approximately 81% of votes counted. Final results are expected Saturday afternoon local time.
Wine’s campaign has accused the government of “massive ballot stuffing” and has called on Ugandans to reject what he described as a “criminal regime.”
Alleged Abduction and Security Response
AFP reporters noted calm outside Wine’s residence on Saturday morning, though the internet shutdown prevented direct confirmation of his whereabouts. A National Unity Platform official said that men appearing to be military and security personnel jumped over the fence of Wine’s home, but could not confirm if Wine was taken.
Al Jazeera was also unable to reach Ugandan military or police officials for verification.
Election Violence
While voting on Thursday passed mostly peacefully, overnight clashes in Butambala, 55 km southwest of Kampala, left at least seven people dead.
- Local police attributed the violence to machete-wielding opposition supporters allegedly organized by MP Muwanga Kivumbi, a NUP member, who attacked a police station and vote-tallying center.
- Kivumbi countered, saying that security forces opened fire on opposition supporters waiting for election results, killing at least 10 people and destroying evidence of the casualties.
“After killing them, the military continued firing… You only have a pool of blood left here,” Kivumbi told AFP.
Crackdown on Opposition
The events are part of a long-running crackdown on opposition figures and supporters under Museveni’s government. Human rights groups have repeatedly reported arrests, intimidation, and restrictions on political activity ahead of Uganda’s elections.
Bobi Wine has been Uganda’s most prominent opposition figure, especially among younger voters, advocating for democratic reforms and challenging the status quo of Museveni’s nearly 40-year rule.
Key Takeaways
- Uganda’s military denies abducting Bobi Wine, labeling reports as rumors.
- Election-day incidents and post-voting clashes have resulted in multiple deaths, with both sides blaming each other.
- The internet blackout and restricted media access make independent verification difficult.
- Museveni remains in a strong lead according to partial vote counts, though final results are pending.
- The opposition accuses the government of ballot manipulation and intimidation, intensifying post-election tensions.
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