Police have said former presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has exited the country after spending weeks in hiding, Daily Star has learned.
The development follows a military raid on his home in Magere in January, shortly after he lost the presidential election to incumbent President Yoweri Museveni.
“Two months ago, Museveni yet again usurped the will of the people of Uganda and declared himself president at gunpoint. A day later, gripped by shame and fear, the military invaded my home to harm me, but I was able to evade them and go into hiding,” Bobi Wine said.
He added that in the weeks that followed, security agencies intensified efforts to locate him.
“Over the past two months, the government has looked for me everywhere, raided the homes of my colleagues and fellow leaders, mounted roadblocks and spot checks on vehicles and motorcycles, arrested and dismissed police officers assigned to my campaign, raided my village home, and kept my residence under siege, but they couldn’t find me,” he said.
Bobi Wine said his departure from Uganda is temporary and aimed at engaging international allies.
“Today, I am announcing my brief exit from the country to handle important work. Over the next few weeks, I will engage with our friends and allies all over the world before returning to Uganda to continue the push for freedom and democracy. For now, let’s remain focused and united,” he said.
Earlier in February, Kyagulanyi alleged that the military had taken over his residence in Magere, saying soldiers forcefully entered the premises.
“The military surrounding our home in Magere once again forced themselves into the house. They are now fully occupying our entire home—inside, outside, and around it,” the former Member of Parliament said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Last month, police spokesperson Rusoke Kituuma said Kyagulanyi had no case to answer despite heavy security deployment at his residence.
Kituuma confirmed the continued presence of security personnel at Kyagulanyi’s home, saying it was for national security reasons.
“We still have a presence at the home of the former presidential candidate Kyagulanyi. We have security deployment within the precincts of his home, and this is purely for security reasons,” Kituuma said.
He added: “If he commits any particular offence, we shall certainly invite him to police or arrest and take him to court. But at the moment, there are specific operational postures being undertaken at his premises in the interest of national security.”
On January 23, 2026, the military raided Kyagulanyi’s residence, barely ten days after the January 15 presidential election. The raid was confirmed by Kyagulanyi himself.
The incident occurred amid reports that the former opposition leader had gone into hiding for fear of arrest following the elections.
Kyagulanyi lost the January 15 poll to President Museveni, who was declared winner with 71 percent of the total votes cast. Museveni garnered 7,946,772 votes, while Kyagulanyi came second with 2,741,238 votes.
Since polling day, Kyagulanyi’s home in Magere has reportedly remained under heavy military deployment, with security personnel controlling access to the property. Despite uncertainty surrounding his whereabouts, Kyagulanyi has continued to speak to international media outlets.
According to Kyagulanyi, hundreds of soldiers descended on his home late at night.
“Some were dressed in Special Forces Command (SFC) uniforms, others in regular UPDF attire, while some were in plain clothes. They came with ladders ready to climb upstairs. They broke our doors and forced themselves into the house. Using hammers, they hit walls, window glass and doors,” he said.
The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, later confirmed that the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) carried out the raid but denied allegations that soldiers assaulted Kyagulanyi’s wife, Barbra Kyagulanyi.
“My soldiers did not beat up Barbie, Bobi Wine’s wife. First of all, we do not beat women. They are not worth our time. We are looking for her cowardly husband, not her,” Gen. Muhoozi said earlier.
He said the search for Kyagulanyi had been temporarily suspended on the orders of the Commander-in-Chief, President Museveni.
