KAMPALA — Ugandan opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu — widely known as Bobi Wine — has revealed that his wife, Barbara Kyagulanyi, and their children have fled the country out of fear for their safety following a military raid on their home and alleged mistreatment by security forces.
Kyagulanyi has been in hiding since shortly after the January 15, 2026, general election, which he rejected as fraudulent.
Speaking remotely to international audiences, Kyagulanyi said the raiding of his residence and intimidation by military operatives forced his family to leave Uganda. “My wife and children had to flee the country for fear of their lives,” he said, without disclosing their current location.
He also accused Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is President Yoweri Museveni’s son, of issuing orders for his arrest under a “dead or alive” mandate. Kyagulanyi said soldiers acted on that directive, raiding his home, torturing family members and humiliating his wife while alleging she hid him.
The opposition leader’s statements came amid rising international concern over Uganda’s post-election political climate. Political tensions escalated when Museveni was declared the winner with over 71 percent of the vote, while Kyagulanyi claimed widespread irregularities and voter suppression.
Kyagulanyi has remained out of public view in Uganda since the election, instead communicating via social media and international appearances. He has accused security forces of surrounding his home and pursuing him.
In a speech at the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, Kyagulanyi called on the global community to impose targeted sanctions against President Museveni, Gen. Muhoozi, and other officials he blames for human rights violations and systematic repression.
“We are only asking for targeted sanctions against Gen Museveni, his son Gen Muhoozi and other top police and judicial officers who have blocked the justice system,” he told delegates.
His appeal included urging development partners to reconsider aid to the Ugandan government and explore legal avenues for citizens denied justice. Critics argue that repeated detentions, enforced disappearances and violence against opposition members and supporters have marked the post election period.
State House dismissed the calls for sanctions, describing them as “reckless and very counterproductive.” A presidential spokesman said Uganda remains stable and that security forces act within the law.
The situation has drawn international attention, with bodies such as the European Parliament expressing concern about post election abuses and urging engagement with Ugandan authorities to ensure respect for democratic principles and human rights.
Kyagulanyi’s disclosures underline the heightened political tensions in Uganda and reflect ongoing debates about governance, rights and electoral integrity in East Africa’s longstanding ruling landscape.
