In a statement posted on X in the early hours of Saturday, Wine said that masked and armed individuals forced their way into his residence on January 23 and attacked relatives who were present.
He added that the intruders isolated his wife, Barbie Kyagulanyi, inside the compound, leaving their intentions unclear.
“A group of masked, armed soldiers has just broken into our house and beat up my family members. They have currently isolated my wife, Barbie Kyagulanyi, alone. Their intentions are unclear!” Wine wrote.
“A group of masked, armed soldiers has just broken into our house and beat up my family members. They have currently isolated my wife, Barbie Kyagulanyi, alone. Their intentions are unclear!” Wine wrote.
The opposition leader has remained out of public view since a reported military operation at his residence on January 16, days after Uganda’s general elections.
His current whereabouts have not been publicly disclosed, fueling speculation and anxiety among his supporters and human rights groups.
A video shared on social media and said to have been recorded by Barbie Kyagulanyi appears to show her confronting individuals inside the compound, demanding to know why they were there and what they wanted.
The footage has since circulated widely, drawing condemnation from opposition figures and civil society activists.
Wine rejected the outcome of the January 15 presidential election, in which the Electoral Commission declared President Yoweri Museveni the winner with 71.65 per cent of the vote, securing a controversial seventh term in office.
Wine rejected the outcome of the January 15 presidential election, in which the Electoral Commission declared President Yoweri Museveni the winner with 71.65 per cent of the vote, securing a controversial seventh term in office.
Wine finished second with about 2.7 million votes, but his National Unity Platform (NUP) party has alleged massive electoral fraud, voter suppression and intimidation.
Opposition leaders say the reported raid on Wine’s home is part of a broader pattern of repression that has escalated since the polls.
Opposition leaders say the reported raid on Wine’s home is part of a broader pattern of repression that has escalated since the polls.
NUP leader Joel Ssenyonyi condemned what he described as an assault on Wine’s family and the reported isolation of his wife, calling it a grave violation of political rights.
“These abuses signal a grave assault on political rights and should alarm all who care about democracy,” Ssenyonyi said in a statement.
He also referenced reports alleging that about 2,000 opposition members, including polling agents and senior NUP officials, are unaccounted for following the election.
“These abuses signal a grave assault on political rights and should alarm all who care about democracy,” Ssenyonyi said in a statement.
He also referenced reports alleging that about 2,000 opposition members, including polling agents and senior NUP officials, are unaccounted for following the election.
More than two dozen deaths have been reported, with some claims attributed to statements by Chief of Defence Forces Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who has previously drawn international criticism for inflammatory remarks about opposition supporters.
The developments have attracted growing international attention. In a statement released on Friday, the European Union acknowledged the official results announced by the Electoral Commission but said it shared concerns raised by the joint African Union–COMESA–IGAD Election Observation Mission.
The EU cited an uneven electoral environment, arrests of civil society actors, and the nationwide internet shutdown imposed ahead of the vote as key issues undermining the credibility of the process.
“We regret pre- and post-electoral violence and threats, particularly against opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine), and call on all parties to exercise restraint and on the authorities to ensure the safety of all political actors,” the EU said.
Despite the criticism, the EU reaffirmed its partnership with Uganda, stating that it remained committed to engagement with the government, civil society and the private sector “based on shared interests and mutual respect.”
The Ugandan government has so far not issued an official response to Wine’s allegations of a raid on his home.
The developments have attracted growing international attention. In a statement released on Friday, the European Union acknowledged the official results announced by the Electoral Commission but said it shared concerns raised by the joint African Union–COMESA–IGAD Election Observation Mission.
The EU cited an uneven electoral environment, arrests of civil society actors, and the nationwide internet shutdown imposed ahead of the vote as key issues undermining the credibility of the process.
“We regret pre- and post-electoral violence and threats, particularly against opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine), and call on all parties to exercise restraint and on the authorities to ensure the safety of all political actors,” the EU said.
Despite the criticism, the EU reaffirmed its partnership with Uganda, stating that it remained committed to engagement with the government, civil society and the private sector “based on shared interests and mutual respect.”
The Ugandan government has so far not issued an official response to Wine’s allegations of a raid on his home.
In previous statements, authorities have defended security operations as necessary to maintain law and order and protect national stability, particularly during and after the election period.
Human rights groups, however, argue that the continued targeting of opposition figures, civil society activists and election monitors points to a shrinking democratic space in Uganda.
Human rights groups, however, argue that the continued targeting of opposition figures, civil society activists and election monitors points to a shrinking democratic space in Uganda.
The pre-election suspension of several non-governmental organisations and the arrest of prominent election observers have further heightened concerns about transparency and accountability.
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