The wife of Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine has spoken publicly from her hospital bed in Kampala, recounting what she described as a violent overnight raid on their home by security forces searching for her husband.
Barbra Itungo Kyagulanyi told journalists that soldiers stormed the family residence late at night, insisting they were looking for Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi. According to her, the operation was triggered after his mobile phone — which had been left at home — was briefly switched on earlier in the day.
She explained that she had powered on the phone around mid-afternoon while trying to retrieve a password. She believes security agencies tracked the signal and assumed her husband was inside the house, unaware that he had already left the device behind.
“They were convinced he was home because the phone showed activity,” she said. “But he had already gone and left the phone behind.”
Mrs Kyagulanyi alleged that the soldiers subjected her to physical assault and intimidation during the raid, accusing her of refusing to disclose her husband’s whereabouts or give them access to the phone. She said she was threatened at gunpoint and forcefully questioned for several hours.
Bobi Wine later confirmed the incident in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating that hundreds of soldiers raided his home in his absence. He accused them of looting property, harassing family members, and violently assaulting his wife while demanding information about his location.
“They put my wife at gunpoint, asking her to reveal my whereabouts,” Wine wrote. “They strangled her and insulted her.”
Mrs Kyagulanyi echoed the claims, saying the soldiers used force in an attempt to obtain the phone password. She recounted being dragged, pushed to the ground, and restrained while repeatedly being asked to cooperate.
Despite her condition, she said she refused to comply.
“You have already done enough,” she recalled telling them. “You are not getting the password.”
She was later taken to hospital, where she remains under medical observation.
Wine in hiding after disputed election
The incident comes amid heightened political tension following Uganda’s presidential election held last week. Long-serving leader Yoweri Museveni was declared the winner, securing a seventh term in office.
Bobi Wine, the main opposition candidate and leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP), rejected the results, describing the vote as a “blatant theft” marred by intimidation, violence, and irregularities.
Following the announcement, Wine went into hiding, citing serious threats to his life. His supporters say security forces have since intensified operations targeting opposition figures across the country.
Uganda’s political environment has remained volatile, with reports of arrests, raids, and military deployments in opposition strongholds.
Army chief’s remarks spark outrage
Further controversy erupted after statements attributed to the head of Uganda’s army, Muhoozi Kainerugaba — who is also President Museveni’s son — circulated on social media.
In a series of posts on X, Kainerugaba vowed to hunt down Bobi Wine and made inflammatory remarks about opposition supporters. He claimed that dozens of people had been killed and thousands arrested since the election.
“We have arrested more than 2,000 thugs that Kabobi thought he could use,” he wrote, using a derogatory nickname for Wine. “So far, we have killed 30 NUP terrorists.”
The comments triggered widespread condemnation from human rights groups, opposition leaders, and international observers, who warned that such statements risk escalating political violence.
Opposition figures arrested
Ugandan police have also detained several key opposition members in the days following the election.
On Thursday, authorities confirmed the arrest of Muwanga Kivumbi, a lawmaker and deputy president of the National Unity Platform. Police spokesman Kituuma Rusoke said Kivumbi was being investigated for his alleged involvement in violent incidents in a remote part of central Uganda during the election period.
According to police, clashes in the constituency resulted in the deaths of seven people. Kivumbi is expected to face criminal charges, although the opposition maintains the accusations are politically motivated.
NUP officials say the arrests are part of a broader campaign to dismantle the party’s leadership and silence dissent.
Calls for international intervention
Bobi Wine’s legal team has appealed to the United Nations and the wider international community to intervene urgently.
His lawyer called for “immediate, verifiable guarantees” of Wine’s safety, insisting that he must be allowed to return to his family without fear of arrest, torture, or assassination.
Human rights organisations have echoed the call, warning that the situation in Uganda is deteriorating rapidly.
Election observers reported widespread irregularities, including voter intimidation, heavy military presence at polling stations, and a nationwide internet shutdown that lasted several days. The blackout severely restricted communication, media coverage, and independent verification of results.
Global concern mounts
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has said he is closely monitoring developments in Uganda with deep concern. In a statement, the UN urged all parties to exercise restraint, respect human rights, and uphold democratic principles.
International partners, including the European Union and several African civil society groups, have also expressed alarm over reports of violence, mass arrests, and threats against opposition leaders.
For many Ugandans, the latest events have revived long-standing fears over political repression in a country where President Museveni has ruled since 1986.
As Barbra Kyagulanyi continues her recovery in hospital, her account has become a powerful symbol of the post-election crisis gripping the nation — one that critics say reflects the growing risks faced by opposition families as political tensions intensify.
Whether diplomatic pressure will ease the standoff or further confrontations lie ahead remains uncertain, but observers warn that without dialogue and accountability, Uganda’s fragile peace could be pushed even closer to breaking point.
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