Ugandan opposition leader and musician Bobi Wine has raised accusations against the security forces, alleging the abduction and violent treatment of several of his supporters during a screening of his documentary on Friday. Through a series of tweets, Bobi Wine elaborated on the incidents, asserting that both military and police personnel carried out attacks and kidnapped Namutosi Sandra and Namagembe Aisha in front of Kampala Kolping Hotel, a budget-friendly establishment in the capital.
He further stated that Muwanga Owen was abducted in the vicinity of Lubigi as he made his way home. The whereabouts of the abducted individuals remain undisclosed, heightening concerns about their well-being.
The documentary, titled “Bobi Wine: The People’s President”, was crafted by National Geographic, offering an extensive exploration of the life and political odyssey of Bobi Wine, who contested against President Yoweri Museveni in the January 2021 election.
The film delves into the human rights violations and electoral malpractice that tainted the polls, culminating in Museveni’s triumph with 58.6% of the vote, as per official figures. Bobi Wine, who garnered 34.8% of the vote, rebuffed the outcome, citing instances of rigging and coercion.
Bobi Wine, born Robert Kyagulanyi, spearheads the National Unity Platform (NUP) party, which secured 61 seats in parliament, emerging as the predominant opposition entity. He has been an outspoken critic of Museveni’s administration, which has held sway since 1986 and has been accused of autocratic tendencies and corruption. Bobi Wine’s music and advocacy for change have struck a chord with numerous young Ugandans, galvanizing them to clamor for reform.
Despite his widespread appeal, Bobi Wine and his supporters have encountered unrelenting harassment and violence from security forces, who have accused them of fomenting unrest and flouting COVID-19 restrictions. The electioneering period leading up to the polls witnessed numerous fatalities and hundreds of detentions.
Subsequent to the election, Bobi Wine was subjected to an 11-day house arrest before being granted permission to travel abroad, where he shared his ordeal through the documentary. Upon his return to Uganda on October 5, 2023, he was promptly reapprehended.
The Ugandan government has yet to respond to the recent allegations of abduction and brutality leveled by Bobi Wine. International censure from the US and EU has urged for an impartial inquiry into election irregularities and human rights violations.
Nonetheless, President Museveni has dismissed such rebukes as external meddling and has reiterated his resolve to quash any endeavors to destabilize the nation.