Africa-Press – Uganda. Former National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has begun a series of international engagements with key legislative and diplomatic actors, starting with meetings on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.
In a brief message issued via his official account on X on Wednesday, he wrote: “Started my international engagements today with meetings on Capitol Hill, in Washington DC.”
Kyagulanyi’s remarks come shortly after he confirmed over the weekend that he had temporarily left Uganda following more than eight weeks spent operating from undisclosed locations amid the fallout from the country’s disputed January 15 presidential election.
In a statement shared on social media, Kyagulanyi said the trip is intended to deepen international engagement on Uganda’s contested electoral outcome.
While in hiding, he addressed the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy and delivered an online presentation to officials of the European Union, raising concerns about electoral integrity and human rights conditions.
He indicated that his current travels would allow him to escalate these engagements through in-person meetings.
“I am announcing my brief exit from the country to handle important work. Over the next few weeks, I will engage with our friends in the diaspora before returning to Uganda to continue the push for freedom and democracy,” he said in a video message.
To maintain continuity within party operations, Bobi Wine appointed Lina Zedriga Waru, Vice President for Western Uganda of the National Unity Platform, as acting party president. Zedriga recently returned from prison.
The developments follow Kyagulanyi’s extended period in hiding since January 16, when he reportedly fled his residence in Magere following an alleged military raid.
He has claimed he was evading “snatch squads” amid a heavy security presence around his home—allegations consistently denied by authorities.
Kyagulanyi has rejected the official election results, which returned President Museveni to power, describing the outcome as fraudulent and accusing the Electoral Commission of Uganda of manipulating the process.
He has also alleged that results were announced without the mandatory Declaration of Results forms, though he has not publicly presented substantiated evidence to support the claims.
Despite the dispute, Kyagulanyi has ruled out pursuing legal redress, citing lack of confidence in the judiciary. Instead, he has called for peaceful demonstrations to challenge what he describes as a stolen election.
Government officials have rejected claims of political persecution. Chris Baryomunsi said the government has no intention of arresting the opposition leader, while Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja urged him to return home and abandon what she described as “comedy.”
Authorities have also maintained that the continued deployment of security forces around Kyagulanyi’s residence is intended to maintain public order, not to threaten or detain him. Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke said the security presence will remain until he returns.
In a telephone interview, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Henry Oryem Okello, dismissed Kyagulanyi’s international engagements as inconsequential, framing them as an attempt to gain sympathy from foreign audiences rather than address domestic political processes.
Oryem argued that seeking support from Western governments, whose citizens do not participate in Ugandan elections, is misguided and amounts to attempting to gain power “through the back door.”
He added that no foreign government has formally raised concerns with Uganda regarding the election or Kyagulanyi’s claims, insisting that the country’s international relations remain unaffected.
