KAMPALA.
Hiding National Unity Platform (NUP) President Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has announced his temporarily exit from the country after more than eight weeks of operating from undisclosed locations following the contested January 2026 presidential election.
Positing on his X on Saturday, Kyagulanyi framed the departure as a strategic effort to increase international pressure on President Museveni’s government, which has been in power since January 1986 .
Kyagulanyi ,43 has been in hiding since January 16, 2026, alleging that security forces raided his home in Magere,Wakiso District shortly after the polls won by Museveni ended . While military officials have denied targeting him, the NUP leader says he had to evade “snatch squads” amid what he describes as a heavy military siege.
“The regime has looked for me everywhere. They have raided the homes of many colleagues… well, they couldn’t find me because the people of Uganda sheltered me and protected me,” Kyagulanyi said.
He described the post-election period as a state of “siege,” citing roadblocks, arrests of his security personnel, and harassment of his family as evidence of an orchestrated crackdown on dissent.
The January 15, 2026, election took place under a near-total internet blackout and was marred by widespread reports of technical failures with biometric voting machines.
President Museveni was declared the winner with over 70 percent of the vote. Kyagulanyi and NUP rejected the results, alleging “massive ballot stuffing” and state-sponsored intimidation.
International human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, have highlighted a “longstanding pattern of abuse” against opposition figures in Uganda, noting allegations that Kyagulanyi’s wife, Barbie Itungo , was assaulted by security forces in late January.
Kyagulanyi emphasized that his departure is intended to be short-term. He said he will engage with “friends and allies all over the world” to discuss Uganda’s political crisis before returning to continue his campaign for democracy.
“I am announcing my brief exit from the country to handle important work,” he said. “Over the next few weeks, I will engage with our friends… before returning to Uganda to continue the push for freedom and democracy!”
The Ugandan government has not issued an official statement regarding Kyagulanyi’s departure. In recent weeks, military spokespeople have dismissed his claims of being hunted, suggesting the statements are intended to mobilize his supporters.
Kyagulanyi’s international engagements are expected to include meetings with human rights organisations and political leaders in Europe and North America, where he has previously lobbied for sanctions against Ugandan officials.
Kyagulanyi, who has been in “hiding” since January 16, 2026 delivered a video message which was related to the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy last month .
He alleged that President Museveni and his son who serves as the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, orchestrated widespread violence and election rigging. It was his second time that Kyagulanyi was addressing the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy.
The Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy is a major conference that shines a spotlight on urgent human rights situations that require global attention.
It provides a platform for human rights activists and former political prisoners to testify about their personal struggles for democracy and freedom while building an international community to take on dictators.
This year’s summit, like the previous ones, is held around the main annual session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. Many Ugandans expected that the NUP leader would personally attend the conference, given the suspicion that he had fled the country immediately after the January Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
“Uganda is a nation of 50 million people living under a violent military dictatorship for 40 years,” he said.
It is the first time he has addressed the international community about the outcome of the recent presidential elections.
Kyagulanyi detailed the events of Uganda’s 2025 presidential campaign, describing arrests, abductions, and internet shutdowns.
He said the election was so manipulated that even at the polling station where Mr Museveni voted, he received more votes than the number of registered voters.
“The election was so rigged, even at Museveni’s polling station, he got more votes than registered voters.”
The NUP, however, did not petition the court to challenge the outcome of the election in which he emerged as the runner-up to President Museveni. Speaking about the human cost, Mr Kyagulanyi revealed the impact on his family. He said his home was raided, his family members tortured, and his wife publicly humiliated. All his wife and children have since fled the country .
“The military raided my home, tortured my family, humiliated my wife, and shared pictures on Twitter. My wife Barbie, and our children had to flee the country for fear of their lives,” he reported.
He stated that while he is in hiding, he doesn’t want to be in hiding. “It was necessary, though, so that I could stay alive. And be able to speak to you right now.”
Mr Kyagulanyi urged the international community to impose sanctions and not recognize Museveni’s government which now seeks to extend its tenure to 45 years after the January polls where Museveni was declared winner .
