Uganda’s military chief, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, publicly stated that the allegations regarding soldiers attacking Barbara Kyagulanyi (the spouse to Opposition Leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (popularly known as Bobi Wine)) are false.
The claims followed an alleged raid that took place during the night at the home of the Kyagulanyi family. Bobi Wine is claiming that as a result of the raid, he went into hiding, and that members of the military held his wife at gunpoint, assaulted her with physical violence, and took away documents and electronic equipment. Bobi Wine is claiming that the military has continued to hold siege over their residence since the raid.
From her hospital bed, Barbara Kyagulanyi testified that members of the armed forces asked for Bobi Wine’s location. Additionally, she claims that members of the armed forces assaulted her and threatened her during the raid when they were unable to obtain the information they wanted.
The raid comes just after the most recent presidential election, where Yoweri Museveni, the father of Muhoozi Kainerugaba, was declared the winner yet again. Bobi Wine is claiming fraud in the election process.
In response to media reports, Muhoozi Kainerugaba posted on social media denying that any members of the military were involved in the attack on Barbara Kyagulanyi and reaffirmed that his military’s primary mission is to find Bobi Wine. Kainerugaba also claimed that the military does not target women during operations.
Kainerugaba continues to demand Bobi Wine’s submission and has made threatening remarks since the announcement of the elections, which have raised concern from several human rights organisations. Kainerugaba is still pursuing Bobi Wine, while Kainerugaba’s wife has suffered both physical and psychological trauma.
Kyagulanyi’s wife, Barbara, reported an extreme story of the raid in which she stated many men, some wearing uniforms, entered her place forcibly through the use of force and struck her in her face, choked her, dragged her away by her dress, and partially undressed her, causing her to black out and be sent to the hospital.
Some political parties claim the raid demonstrates a larger crackdown that has happened after the election, with their supporters being targeted for violence and harassment by the state. Kainerugaba has previously stated that many supporters of opposition parties have been killed and many detained, for which there are growing concerns nationally and internationally.
The National Unity Party has denied the accusations regarding election-related violence that occurred when one of its leaders was arrested last week. The Uganda Law Society has condemned the rise in the use of arbitrary detention, torture, and kidnapping of opposition supporters.
