Opposition Leader Bobi Wine Leaves Uganda
Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine has announced that he has left the country after spending two months in hiding following the disputed presidential election held in January.
Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, stated that he traveled abroad for "critical engagements" and to assist in mobilizing the international community against President Yoweri Museveni.
The former pop star turned politician reiterated his claim that he won the presidential election, which he alleges was rigged in favor of Museveni, who has held power since 1986.
President Museveni, aged 81, secured the election with 72% of the vote and has accused the opposition of attempting to overturn the results through violent means.
Calls for Sanctions and First Public Statement in Weeks
Wine's statement was shared via a five-minute video posted on X, marking his first public appearance in several weeks. In the video, he called for targeted sanctions against Museveni.
While some government officials have denied that security forces are actively searching for Bobi Wine, Museveni's son, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who leads the country's military, declared that Wine was "wanted dead or alive" and also threatened to castrate him. These messages were subsequently removed from his X account.
General Kainerugaba did not specify any particular offenses committed by Wine. The BBC has reached out to the police for comment on these developments.
Allegations of Raids and Military Presence
Wine, 44, alleged that authorities have repeatedly raided the homes of his supporters in search of him, including as recently as Thursday. He also reported that roadblocks have been established across the country. He stated that his residence in the capital city, Kampala, remains surrounded by the military, a situation that has persisted since election day.
"I thank all you fellow Ugandans who have concealed and protected me all the time while the regime was looking for me,"
he said in the video.
Wine denied any wrongdoing, emphasizing that
"running for president is not a crime".
Violence Following Election Protests
Following protests against the election results, General Kainerugaba, who is widely regarded as a potential successor to his father, stated that 30 "terrorists" affiliated with Wine's party had been killed.
Additional reporting by Richard Kagoe
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