Uganda's military chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba has denied claims that soldiers assaulted Barbara Kyagulanyi, the wife of opposition leader Bobi Wine, during a raid at their home. Wine, who is in hiding, alleged on Saturday that his wife was held at gunpoint by military officers who assaulted her, taking away documents and electronic items. He said the house continued to be surrounded by the military.
Speaking from hospital, Barbara Kyagulanyi said the officers had demanded to know Wine's whereabouts and had assaulted her when she refused. It comes after the recent landslide victory of long-serving leader, and Kainerugaba's father, President Yoweri Museveni, which Wine rejected citing fraud.
On Monday, the general posted on X that my soldiers did not beat up Barbie [Bobi Wine's] wife. First of all, we do not beat up women. They are not worth our time. We are looking for her cowardly husband not her, he said. Since Museveni's victory in the January election, the military chief has demanded Wine's surrender and issued death threats against him.
Wine asserted in a post that Kainerugaba continues to threaten harm against him while expressing gratitude to supporters for their protection. Barbara described the traumatic events she experienced during the raid, alleging physical assault and psychological trauma that resulted in hospitalization.
Witness accounts have echoed these claims, detailing the violent actions of the armed officers who allegedly stormed their home and inflicted harm upon her. The ongoing political tension highlights the adversities faced by opposition figures in Uganda, particularly after the recent elections which have been marred by allegations of fraudulent practices.
