Uganda’s opposition party, the National Unity Platform (NUP), said that its leader, Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, has been forcibly taken by military personnel to an unknown location. The incident reportedly took place at Bobi Wine’s family home.
According to NUP, a military helicopter landed in Bobi Wine’s residence, where armed officers reportedly assaulted his private security guards and cut off electricity to the compound.
The party said the electric fence surrounding the home was also destroyed during the operation.
"An army helicopter has landed in President Bobi Wine's compound and forcibly taken him away to an unknown destination," the NUP statement said.
"Regime security operatives have deliberately cut off electricity supply to the home and destroyed the electric fence along the perimeter. President Bobi Wine’s private security guards have been violently assaulted despite having committed no offense," it added.
Why Was Bobi Wine Taken By Army?
The opposition party has not given any reason for Bobi Wine’s removal, and Ugandan authorities have not released a statement regarding the incident. It is unclear what prompted the military action or where Bobi Wine is being held.
The NUP called the act a serious escalation and warned that the forces involved appear to be attempting to break into the home.
Earlier in the day, Bobi Wine tweeted, "IGNORE the fake results being announced by Byabakama. He can't tell anybody where those results are coming from. Our agents at the tally centre are asking him for the source of these results, and the regime enabler can't say a thing. The PEOPLE OF UGANDA will have the final say on this nonsense."
Bobi Wine is a prominent opposition figure in Uganda and a former presidential candidate. His reported detention is likely to heighten tensions between the government and opposition groups, who have previously accused the authorities of suppressing dissent.
