Ugandan opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine has spoken out from his hiding place, days after escaping following a presidential election loss detailed on official poll results.
Bobi Wine, Uganda’s opposition leader, has been in hiding since the January 15 presidential election, and his whereabouts remain unknown. The military and police have taken over his home, and he has accused them of intimidation and threats to his family.
His wife, Barbie Kyagulanyi, is sounding the alarm, sharing harrowing details of their situation: “Last night, they banged our doors while insulting me and my husband… They have cut the padlocks of our gates and replaced them with chains. WE NEED OUR FREEDOM.”
Bobi Wine has broken his silence from hiding, telling Al Jazeera, “I am alive; I don’t know how my family is. I would love to be in my home. I have not changed my clothes in days.”
He accused the military and police of taking over his home, saying it is a move to intimidate and silence him. “I want to be home and free. I want to take care of my people. But the military and police have taken over my home. This is a crackdown to intimidate, silence and subdue the forces of change,” he said.
Bobi Wine also shared his frustration on social media: “You ordered the raid on my house to harm me! I beat you at your own game and escaped… Anyway, I will resurface when I decide. Then you and your father can do whatever you want to me. But make no mistake – YOU WILL NEVER ESCAPE THE INEVITABLE CONSEQUENCES OF YOUR ATROCITIES AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF UGANDA. THIS IS OUR COUNTRY!”
Meanwhile, Uganda’s military chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba, son of President Yoweri Museveni, has given Bobi Wine a 48-hour ultimatum to surrender to police. “As for Kabobi, the permanent loser, I’m giving him exactly 48 hours to surrender himself to the Police. If he doesn’t, we will treat him as an outlaw/rebel and handle him accordingly,” Muhoozi wrote.
