Uganda’s Bobi Wine Evades Police Raid

Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine said Saturday that he had escaped a police raid on his home and was in hiding as the country braced for the results of a fraught election held under an internet blackout.

President Yoweri Museveni, 81, looked set to be declared the winner and extend his 40-year rule in an election marred by reports of at least 10 deaths and intimidation of the opposition and civil society.

As Uganda endured a tense wait after Thursday’s polls, Museveni had a commanding lead against Wine, 43, a former singer turned politician who was arrested ahead of Uganda’s last election, in 2021.

With final results due on Saturday, there were conflicting reports about Wine’s whereabouts, following claims that police and the army had raided his home on Friday night.

“I want to confirm that I managed to escape from them,” Wine posted on X on Saturday. “Currently, I am not at home, although my wife and other family members remain under house arrest.

“I know that these criminals are looking for me everywhere, and I am trying my best to keep safe,” he added.

There was a heavy police presence around the capital, Kampala, with security forces forcing people off the streets as they sought to prevent the sort of protests that have hit neighbouring Kenya and Tanzania in recent months.

With more than 90 percent of votes counted on Saturday, Museveni was leading on 71.9 percent to Wine’s 24.5, the Electoral Commission said.

Wine, 43, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, has emerged as the main challenger to Museveni in recent years, styling himself the “ghetto president” after the Kampala slum areas where he grew up.

He has accused the government of “massive ballot stuffing” and attacking several of his party officials under cover of the internet blackout, which was imposed ahead of the polls and remained in place on Saturday.

African election observers said Saturday they saw no evidence of ballot-stuffing but denounced “reports of intimidation, arrest and abductions” targeting the opposition and civil society.

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Tope Oke

Temitope is a storyteller driven by a passion for the intricate world of geopolitics, the raw beauty of wildlife, and the dynamic spirit of sports. As both a writer and editor, he excels at crafting insightful and impactful narratives that not only inform but also inspire and advocate for positive change. Through his work, he aims to shed light on complex issues, celebrate diverse perspectives, and encourage readers to engage with the world around them in a more meaningful way.