Uganda’s military chief, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has denied accusations that soldiers assaulted Barbara Kyagulanyi, the wife of opposition leader Bobi Wine, during a raid on their home. The incident has sparked widespread outrage, with Wine alleging that military officers held his wife at gunpoint, assaulted her, and confiscated documents and electronic devices.
Wine, who is currently in hiding, accused the military of continuing to surround their home after the raid. Barbara Kyagulanyi, speaking from a hospital bed, detailed how the soldiers, some in uniform, forcibly entered their home, assaulted her, and demanded to know her husband’s whereabouts. She described being struck on the face, having her lip torn, and being lifted by the waistband of her trousers while another officer choked her. Barbara recounted being partially stripped and enduring further violence, resulting in both physical and psychological trauma.
The raid follows Uganda’s recent presidential election, in which long-serving President Yoweri Museveni, Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s father, was declared the winner. Opposition leader Bobi Wine rejected the election results, citing allegations of fraud. Since then, the opposition has claimed that security forces have been targeting its supporters. Kainerugaba, in a social media post, dismissed the claims, asserting that “we do not beat up women” and stating that his focus was on apprehending Bobi Wine, not his wife.
Bobi Wine reacted to Kainerugaba’s statement on social media, reiterating that the military chief was still searching for him and threatening harm. He thanked supporters for continuing to keep him safe. The opposition has also alleged that security forces have been involved in killing at least 30 opposition supporters and detaining over 2,000 others since the election. Lawmaker Muwanga Kivumbi, an ally of Wine, was also arrested for his alleged role in election-related violence, a charge that Wine’s party denies.
The Uganda Law Society has condemned the ongoing violence, highlighting the rise in detentions, torture, and enforced disappearances of opposition members. The society called for an end to violence under the pretext of national security, emphasizing that no one should be subjected to such abuse.
Uganda’s history of political unrest and lack of peaceful power transitions since independence continues to fuel tensions. Museveni, who first came to power in 1986, is set to serve for 45 years when his current term ends in 2031, leading to increasing international scrutiny over the state of democracy in the country.
