Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also known as Bobi Wine- the main challenger to Uganda’s long-time President Yoweri Museveni, has fled into exile after hiding for more than two months in the country.
In a message posted on his X account on Monday, Kyagulanyi cited concerns over his personal safety as the main reason for fleeing the country.
He said security forces had been searching for him but failed to find him because members of the public had shielded him.
“It’s laughable that Uganda’s security apparatus has poured billions of taxpayer shillings into hunting me and still come up empty, because people shielded me upon Museveni’s son’s orders,” Kyagulanyi said.
He also alleged that security operatives had been raiding homes while looking for him.
“They raid homes looking for me. Two days ago, they stormed my assistant Sharif Najja’s house; when they didn’t find either of us, they seized his wife, or she remains missing,” Kyagulanyi added.
Kyagulanyi further claimed that nine police officers who had been assigned to him during the presidential campaign were arrested after they refused to spy on him.
“They were arrested and detained, and now they’ve been dismissed from the police in disgrace, apparently because they wouldn’t help spy on me or prevent me from leaving my house, even though their assignment officially ended on January 15th,” he stated.
Kyagulanyi finished second in the 2026 presidential election with 2,741,238 votes (24.75 per cent) against 7,946,772 votes (71.65 per cent) for the incumbent president, Yoweri Museveni.
However, the National Unity Platform (NUP), which he has been leading, has continued to claim that the January 2026 election was rigged and accused the government of targeting him. He alleged that security forces raided his home shortly after the election.
“They raided my home on January 16th, and I managed to escape. A few days later, they returned, assaulted my wife and other family members, vandalised the house, stole valuables, and our home is still occupied and surrounded. That’s why I’ve been hiding and why I’m leaving the country for now,” Kyagulanyi said.
Kyagulanyi said his departure should not be interpreted as surrender but rather as part of a broader strategy to push for political change. He said he plans to engage the international community and push for sanctions against the government of President Museveni and its alleged supporters.
MG/as/APA