Africa-Press. Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine said his wife was taken to hospital after soldiers stormed their home, partially stripped her of her clothes, and strangled her.
Wine, a former pop star turned politician, was not at home. He is in hiding after surviving an earlier raid on his residence last week, just hours before the announcement of his defeat in the presidential election held on January 15.
In a post on X, Wine said soldiers broke into the opposition leader’s home in the Magere suburb north of Kampala on Saturday night, smashing doors and assaulting staff.
Incumbent President Yoweri Museveni, 81, who has ruled the country for four decades, was declared the winner with 71.6 percent of the vote, compared with 24 percent for Wine. Wine rejected the results, accusing authorities of widespread fraud, including ballot stuffing.
During the raid on his home, Wine said soldiers pointed their weapons at his wife, Barbara Kyagulanyi, demanding that she reveal his whereabouts. He added: “They took my wife’s phone, forced her to sit down, and ordered her to remove the password. She refused, so they strangled and humiliated her. They forcibly tore off her blouse and took photos of her… My wife was immediately taken to hospital, where she is still receiving treatment.”
The Chief of Defence Forces of the Ugandan army, Muhoozi Kainerugaba—son of President Museveni—demanded that Wine surrender himself to the police or be treated as a rebel, and issued death threats against him.
On Friday, Kainerugaba also said that authorities had killed 30 supporters of Wine’s party, the National Unity Platform, and arrested 2,000 others. No charges have been brought against Wine. He claims that money, documents, and other electronic devices were seized during the raid.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed concern on Thursday over the arrests and violence targeting opposition figures and their supporters.
Human rights organizations and opposition critics have long accused Museveni of using the army to entrench his grip on power. Officials from the ruling party deny these accusations, insisting that Museveni’s lengthy rule is due to the popular support he enjoys among voters.
