Bobi Wine Claims Ugandan Security Forces Beat Him
Bobi Wine, Uganda’s leading opposition candidate, says security forces beat him and his supporters during a campaign rally in Gulu, the region’s largest northern city, on Saturday.
The pop‑star‑turned‑politician, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, posted on his X account that a man in police‑like uniform struck him on the face with a cane, while other volunteers were clubbed and rushed to hospital as they approached the venue.
“Criminals in police and military uniform attacked us with sticks and stones and started beating up our people,” Wine wrote. “One of the thugs hit me with a stick on the face; several comrades are hospitalised. All this because Museveni is dead scared of the people.”
According to a video the candidate shared, a large contingent of uniformed personnel can be seen swinging sticks at gathered supporters. He also posted a photo of an aide with blood oozing from a head wound, adding that campaign materials, including his public address system, had been vandalised.
Military spokesperson Chris Magei countered the accusations, stating that Wine and his entourage were conducting an illegal procession and campaigning beyond the authorised time. “Security forces are there to make sure everyone follows the law,” he said.
A police spokesperson did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
The incident comes as Uganda gears up for a presidential election slated for fifteen January, where Wine is challenging eighty‑one‑year‑old President Yoweri Museveni for a second time after finishing second in 2021.
On Wednesday, UN Human Rights chief Volker Turk warned of an “intensifying crackdown” on the opposition, noting that at least five hundred fifty supporters of Wine’s National Unity Platform have been detained this year.
For Ghanaian readers, the escalation underscores the broader regional trend of tightening political spaces ahead of elections, a development that could have ripple effects on trade, diaspora relations and regional stability.
Authorities in Uganda have not yet confirmed the allegations, and the situation remains fluid. Watch this space for updates as the election draws nearer.
Image Source: MYJOYONLINE
