Bobi Wine’s party says he was forcibly taken by army as Museveni nears landslide re-election, with deadly violence reported in central Uganda.
KAMPALA: Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine was reportedly taken by the army from his home on Friday as President Yoweri Museveni closed in on a landslide re-election.
Wine’s National Unity Platform party stated on social media platform X that an army helicopter landed in his Kampala compound and “forcibly taken him away to an unknown destination.”
Reuters could not immediately verify the claim, and some senior party officials said they lacked confirmation.
Spokespeople for Uganda’s government and military did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Wine has alleged mass fraud during Thursday’s election, held under an internet blackout, and called on supporters to protest.
His party said on Thursday he had been placed under effective house arrest.
The vote was widely seen as a test of the 81-year-old Museveni’s political strength and ability to avoid unrest.
As of Friday evening, Museveni, in power since 1986, held a commanding lead with nearly 74% of the vote, the electoral commission said.
Wine trailed with 23% of the vote.
Voting passed peacefully on Thursday after a campaign marred by clashes and what the UN called widespread repression.
Violence broke out overnight in the town of Butambala, about 55 km southwest of Kampala.
Local police spokesperson Lydia Tumushabe said machete-wielding opposition “goons” attacked a police station and vote-tallying centre.
“Security responded in self-defence because these people came in big numbers,” she told Reuters, adding that 25 people were arrested.
However, opposition MP Muwanga Kivumbi told Reuters the victims were killed inside his house while waiting for his parliamentary results.
“They killed 10 people inside my house,” he said, describing the incident as a massacre.
Kivumbi disputed the police’s assertion that the deaths occurred during clashes between the two sides.
Tumushabe said she was not aware of an incident at Kivumbi’s house, which was close to the police station.
Reuters was not able to independently confirm the circumstances of the violence. – Reuters
