KAMPALA, Uganda — Ugandan police have defended their continued presence at the home of former presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, describing it as a security measure.
“We are still having presence at his home and we are doing it for security reasons,” Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke told journalists on Monday 9, February 2026.
Since the January 14 elections, in which Kyagulanyi lost to incumbent President Yoweri Museveni, security forces have maintained a heavy deployment around his residence in Magere, Wakiso District.
Kyagulanyi’s wife, Barbra Itungo, has previously reported that the home was broken into and that family members, including herself, were assaulted by military personnel.
The opposition leader recently stated that neither he nor his family has been allowed access to their residence since an incident on January 23, during which he alleges the house was vandalised and personal items and documents seized.
Activists and human rights groups have criticised the ongoing deployment, questioning the justification for what they describe as a prolonged siege.
When asked if there are any charges against Kyagulanyi, Police spokesperson Rusoke confirmed that no charges have been filed but insisted the presence is for national security.
“If Kyagulanyi commits a very particular offence, we will certainly invite him to police or take him to court. But the presence at his home is in the interest of the security of this country,” Rusoke said, clarifying that the deployment is limited to “deployments around Kyagulanyi’s home” rather than an arrest or detention.
Government officials have echoed the police stance. Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, Minister for ICT and National Guidance, said the security presence is intended to prevent the property from being used as “a hub for public disorder.”
“When the head of the home is not there, you don’t want the whole crowd of Ugandans to converge there. Therefore, there is some access control, but it is harmless,” Baryomunsi said.
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The Minister of State for Internal Affairs, David Muhoozi, dismissed claims that Kyagulanyi’s residence had effectively been turned into a prison.
“A home can only be deemed a prison if it is gazetted and has people occupying it. Kyagulanyi himself is not home,” Muhoozi said, adding that any concerns about inconvenience caused by the deployment “can be ironed out.”
Kyagulanyi, a former musician turned politician, has been a prominent opposition figure in Uganda, and his Magere home has become a focal point for post-election tensions, reflecting broader concerns about political freedoms, human rights, and security operations in the country.
