January 17, 2026 l By Dalena Reporters
KAMPALA, Uganda — In a dramatic escalation of political tension following Thursday’s deeply contested presidential election, Ugandan opposition leader and National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Bobi Wine was reportedly forcibly taken from his home by the military on Friday evening, with his party claiming he was loaded onto an army helicopter and transported to an unknown location as provisional results showed incumbent President Yoweri Museveni with a commanding lead.
The NUP’s statement late Friday on X said that security forces entered Wine’s compound in the Magere district of Kampala, assaulted his private guards, and removed him amid an ongoing political crisis. The party’s assertion came as Ugandans awaited final results expected later Saturday, heightening fears of repression and undermining of democratic norms in the country’s 2026 general election.
Reports of the operation have not been independently verified due to communication disruptions and restricted access around Wine’s residence. Internet services were reportedly cut nationwide during the election period, further complicating verification efforts and prompting concerns from international observers about transparency and civil liberties.
Concurrently, the Ugandan Electoral Commission announced that President Yoweri Museveni in power since 1986 had secured another term, consolidating his rule nearly four decades after first assuming office. Official figures cited Museveni with a substantial proportion of votes, while Wine trailed with significantly less, a result that the opposition has forcefully rejected as fraudulent and manipulated.
Amid the uncertainty, there have been widespread reports of violence and unrest. Residents and politicians alike have described incidents involving lethal force; an NUP member of parliament alleged that security personnel killed several of Wine’s campaign agents after storming his home in central Uganda claims that authorities have disputed.
The conflicting narratives reflect the deep fissures in Ugandan politics, particularly around elections widely seen as pivotal in a country where peaceful transfers of power have historically been elusive. Wine a former pop star turned politician and a central figure in the youthful “People Power” movement has accused the state of engaging in ballot stuffing, intimidation, and the suppression of opposition representatives, while authorities deny detaining him and describe heightened security as efforts to maintain order.
As of the latest reports, Wine’s exact whereabouts remain unclear, even as his family is believed to be confined under tight security at their residence. International human rights groups and foreign governments have expressed alarm over the escalation, while calls for calm and respect for electoral rights continue to emerge from diplomatic circles.
The unfolding situation underscores the precarious state of Uganda’s democratic institutions and raises urgent questions about political freedoms, electoral integrity, and the role of the security apparatus in shaping the future of governance in East Africa.