Opposition leader Bobi Wine says his wife, Barbra (Barbie) Kyagulanyi, has been hospitalised following a violent security operation at their family home in Magere, on the outskirts of Kampala, Uganda a dramatic incident that has drawn international concern amid rising tensions after the disputed 2026 presidential election.
According to Wine’s account on social media, hundreds of armed security personnel some in uniform, others in plain clothes forcibly entered their residence late Friday night, smashing doors and windows as they searched for him. Wine, who has rejected the election results and gone into hiding, was not present during the raid.
Harrowing Details From the Home Raid
Wine alleges that the intruders held his wife at gunpoint, demanding she reveal his location, and forcibly tried to unlock her phone.
When she refused, witnesses say she was strangled, insulted, and partially undressed, suffering injuries that led to her being rushed to hospital where she remains under care for both physical injuries and psychological trauma.
In his post, Wine also said that soldiers ransacked the family home, seized cash, valuable documents, electronic devices like phones and laptops, and damaged property throughout the house. House staff were reportedly assaulted as part of the search.
A Raid Amid Political Turmoil
The incident comes against a backdrop of heightened political tension in Uganda, following the presidential election held on January 15, 2026, in which incumbent Yoweri Museveni was declared the winner with over 71% of the vote, while Wine whose National Unity Platform party took about 24% rejected the results as fraudulent.
Wine’s claims mirror a broader pattern of reported violence and intimidation against opposition figures and supporters since the election, which international rights groups and some foreign governments have condemned.
The UN Secretary-General and others have expressed concern over the crackdown on dissent and reported abuses during the post-election period.
Government Response and International Reaction
At the time of reporting, Uganda’s military and government officials have not publicly responded to the specific allegations surrounding the raid on Wine’s home and the treatment of his wife.
However, the country’s army chief, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba who is also President Museveni’s son has previously issued warnings to Wine to surrender or be treated as a rebel, and authorities have been accused of detaining thousands of opposition supporters.
Human rights advocates argue the incident underscores deepening political polarization and the risks faced by opposition figures and their families in Uganda’s current climate.
