Ugandan Opposition Leader, Bobi Wine Arrested Amid Controversial Poll

Uganda’s post-election tension deepened on Friday as opposition leader, Bobi Wine, was forcibly removed from his home by security forces, heightening concerns over the conduct of elections held under heavy military presence and an internet blackout.

The move came a day after voting in an election that President Yoweri Museveni hopes will extend his rule beyond four decades, amid widespread reports of violence and repression targeting opposition figures and their supporters. Wine, a singer-turned-politician and Museveni’s main challenger, had earlier said he was effectively under house arrest after police surrounded his residence.

His party, the National Unity Platform (NUP), later said the situation escalated dramatically when soldiers arrived by air. In a post on X late Friday, the party said an army helicopter landed inside Wine’s compound and “forcibly taken him away to an unknown destination.” According to the statement, Wine’s private security guards were “violently assaulted” during the operation. The incident unfolded as the country awaited final election results, which were expected around 1300 GMT on Saturday, with fears growing over the safety of opposition leaders and the transparency of the process.

Elsewhere in central Uganda, reports of lethal force against opposition affiliates emerged. Muwanga Kivumbi, a member of parliament from Wine’s party representing the Butambala area, told AFP’s Nairobi office by phone that security forces had killed 10 of his campaign agents after storming his home According to Kivumbi, the agents had been hiding in his garage when security personnel opened fire.

His wife, Zahara Nampewo, a law professor, said the victims were shot after forces fired through the garage door. “After killing them, the military continued firing,” Kivumbi said. “And they ensured that they removed all the evidence of the dead. You only have a pool of blood that is left here.” The developments added to mounting allegations of state-backed violence and intimidation surrounding the election, as opposition groups accused authorities of using security forces to suppress dissent and influence the outcome of the vote.

Preliminary results released by the Electoral Commission showed Museveni leading with more than 75 percent of votes counted from 59 percent of polling stations, according to Reuters. His closest rival, popular musician-turned-politician Bobi Wine, secured about 21 percent, while six other candidates shared the remaining votes.

Thursday’s voting was largely peaceful despite a campaign period marked by violent clashes at opposition rallies and what the United Nations described as widespread repression and intimidation. And, last evening, they attacked our Deputy President for Buganda, Hon. Muwanga Kivumbi and killed ten of our supporters who were at his home.

This, after they abducted our Deputy President, Western Region and attacked our Deputy President, Northern Region. The criminal regime in…