Bobi Wine’s Home Is Not a Prison – Government

The government has rejected claims by the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) that security forces have turned the home of party leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, into a prison.

Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, Minister of Internal Affairs Gen. David Muhoozi said Kyagulanyi’s residence is not a gazetted detention facility and dismissed assertions that the opposition leader is under house arrest.

“That home is not a gazetted prison. The Honourable Kyagulanyi himself is not there. So I want to state categorically that that home is not a prison. There may be inconveniences, and security may have reasons for their presence there — those are matters we can iron out — but the home of Honourable Kyagulanyi is not a prison,” Muhoozi said.

The minister was responding to pressure from the Leader of the Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, who demanded an explanation over the continued deployment of security forces around Kyagulanyi’s residence following the January 15 general elections.

Opposition Raises Alarm

Ssenyonyi accused security forces of raiding Kyagulanyi’s home shortly after the elections and using excessive force against his family.

“My party leader’s home was raided. Honourable Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, who is the owner of that home, managed to sneak away. Even as government officials were saying no one was after him, the military was descending on his home, breaking into it and beating his wife and family members,” Ssenyonyi told Parliament.

Following the elections, Kyagulanyi — the main opposition presidential candidate — said security forces were attempting to arrest him, prompting him to leave his residence. He has since released videos from undisclosed locations, saying he is meeting opposition leaders across the country.

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Kyagulanyi has also called on election stakeholders and the international community to hold President Yoweri Museveni and Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba accountable for alleged vote rigging and the post-election crackdown on opposition supporters.

Questions Over Legal Status

Last week, security personnel guarding the residence reportedly broke into the home and assaulted Kyagulanyi’s wife, Barbie Kyagulanyi, an incident that further heightened tensions.

Ssenyonyi questioned whether Kyagulanyi is formally wanted by the state and, if so, why legal procedures have not been followed.

“If there is an offence that Honourable Kyagulanyi is suspected of having committed, why aren’t summons issued so that he can appear and be charged? Is running for president now an offence?” he asked.

He also sought clarification on whether Kyagulanyi is officially under house arrest, citing reports that even family members have been denied access to the home.

On Wednesday, Kyagulanyi’s siblings were reportedly blocked by police from entering the premises, with officers saying they lacked authority to grant access.

“Is it official that Honourable Kyagulanyi is under house arrest? And if so, why? If not, why can’t his family access their own home?” Ssenyonyi asked.

As of now, government has not indicated when security forces will be withdrawn from the opposition leader’s residence.