KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda’s opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has reportedly left the country and entered a neighbouring East African state, according to officials familiar with the matter, amid heightened political tension following the recent presidential election.
Officials who spoke to Vivid Voice News on condition of anonymity said Kyagulanyi departed Uganda about a week ago, even as senior government figures insisted he was not being pursued by state security agencies.
“That’s the information we are getting now,” one official said.
“He left Uganda about seven days ago.”
The reported exit follows several days of uncertainty after Kyagulanyi said on January 16 that he had gone into hiding, citing fears for his safety after what he described as a military raid on his home in Magere, on the outskirts of Kampala.
Since then, the National Unity Platform (NUP) leader has issued a series of statements on social media alleging that state agencies were targeting him, claims the government has consistently denied.
Government denial
Uganda’s Minister for Information, Communications Technology and National Guidance, Chris Baryomunsi, last week dismissed claims that Kyagulanyi was being hunted by security agencies, insisting that he remained a free citizen.
“On behalf of the government of Uganda, Kyagulanyi is not a wanted man,” Baryomunsi said.
“No security organ, including the police, the army or any other state agency, is pursuing him.”
The minister urged Kyagulanyi to return home and conduct his political activities within the law, noting that other former presidential candidates continue to live openly in the country.
“There’s no need for him to be in hiding. Nobody wants him. He is free to come from wherever he is hiding, return to his home, and observe law and order.”
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja echoed those remarks, describing Kyagulanyi’s decision to go into hiding as unnecessary and politically motivated.
“No one is looking for Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu,” Nabbanja said.
“He should stop the comedy and return home to his family,” she added, characterising his actions as political theatrics.
Post-election tensions
Kyagulanyi, a musician-turned-politician and two-time presidential candidate, lost the January 15 election to long-serving President Yoweri Museveni. He has rejected the outcome, alleging widespread vote rigging, voter intimidation and electoral malpractice.
In the days following the vote, Kyagulanyi claimed that security forces raided his residence and assaulted his wife, Barbie Itungo Kyagulanyi. Those allegations were dismissed by the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who said the military does not target women.
Uganda’s elections have historically been followed by disputes and accusations of repression, with opposition figures frequently alleging harassment, arbitrary arrests and restrictions on political activity.
The government has repeatedly denied such claims, maintaining that security agencies act within the law to preserve public order.
Unanswered questions
Kyagulanyi has not publicly confirmed reports that he has left the country, and senior officials from his National Unity Platform (NUP) have declined to comment on his whereabouts.
As uncertainty persists, analysts say the situation underscores the fragile state of Uganda’s political environment in the aftermath of another contested election, with both the government and opposition locked in sharply contrasting narratives over security, legitimacy and democratic space.
