Ugandan Opposition Leader Accuses Soldiers of Violent Assault on Wife During Home Raid
In a distressing development from Uganda, prominent opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, widely known as Bobi Wine, has reported that his wife was hospitalized following a violent assault by soldiers. The incident occurred during a raid on their family home, escalating tensions in the aftermath of a controversial presidential election.
Details of the Alleged Military Attack
According to Bobi Wine, who communicated via a post on the social media platform X, hundreds of soldiers conducted a raid on his residence while he was absent. He claimed that the soldiers looted the property and subjected his wife to a terrifying ordeal. Wine stated that the troops held his wife at gunpoint, demanding information about his whereabouts, before proceeding to strangle and insult her. The physical and psychological trauma from this assault necessitated her immediate hospitalization, where she remains under medical care.
Background of Post-Election Turmoil
This violent episode unfolds against a backdrop of political unrest following the January 15 election, in which President Yoweri Museveni, aged 81, was re-elected for a seventh term. Bobi Wine, a 43-year-old former ragga singer turned politician, denounced the election results as blatant theft, securing 24.72 percent of the vote compared to Museveni's 71.65 percent. The election period was marred by significant repression, an internet blackout, and widespread criticism from observers and non-governmental organizations, who highlighted these issues as undermining the democratic process.
Threats and International Calls for Safety
Adding to the volatile situation, Museveni's son and army chief, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, made threatening statements on X, vowing to hunt down and kill Bobi Wine, although the post has since been deleted. Kainerugaba further boasted about killing 30 members of Wine's National Unity Platform party and arresting over 2,000 individuals, using derogatory language to refer to the opposition leader. In response, Bobi Wine's lawyer, Robert Amsterdam, has urgently appealed to the United Nations and the international community to demand verifiable guarantees for Wine's safety, emphasizing that his client has committed no crime and is merely exercising fundamental rights through peaceful political opposition.
Global Reactions and Concerns
The European Union has expressed deep concern over the pre- and post-electoral violence, specifically mentioning threats against Bobi Wine. Similarly, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has stated he is closely monitoring the post-election situation in Uganda, noting reports of arrests, detentions, and violent incidents involving opposition figures and their supporters. These international responses underscore the growing alarm over human rights abuses and the need for accountability in Uganda's political landscape.
As the situation continues to develop, the assault on Bobi Wine's wife highlights the severe risks faced by opposition members in Uganda, raising urgent questions about safety, democracy, and the rule of law in the country.
