Bobi Wine Warns of Violence Ahead of Uganda Presidential Election
Politics Updated: 16 December 2025 22:32 EAT
Bobi Wine wears a bulletproof vest and helmet to campaign because President Museveni’s “regime has me as the main target.”
Ugandan opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has described the upcoming presidential election as a “war against him,” citing repeated violence by security forces targeting him and his supporters. In an exclusive interview with international media, Wine claimed that several campaign events have been disrupted by state security agencies, creating an environment of fear and intimidation.
Wine recounted that journalists covering his rallies have faced direct harassment, including instances of teargas being deployed, making it difficult to report safely. “We got teargassed while covering one of his rallies,” he said, highlighting the challenges faced by media personnel during his campaign events. He described the situation as a deliberate attempt to suppress dissent and silence opposition voices ahead of the polls.
The opposition leader accused President Yoweri Museveni of treating Uganda as his personal property. “General Museveni sees Uganda as his personal property and us as his slaves,” Wine said, arguing that the ruling government is systematically using state apparatus to maintain power and intimidate political rivals.
Uganda’s security forces, for their part, have defended their actions, insisting that their operations are intended to maintain public order and prevent violence at political rallies. Authorities have accused Wine’s campaign of provoking unrest and warned against rhetoric that could incite chaos, framing the interventions as necessary measures to protect citizens.
The tense pre-election environment has raised concerns among regional and international observers. The African Union and human rights groups have called for restraint and urged the Ugandan government to guarantee a safe and fair electoral process. Reports of journalists being harassed and opposition supporters facing intimidation have fueled fears that the campaign is unfolding under repressive conditions.
Bobi Wine’s comments come as he continues to mobilize support through rallies and public engagements across the country. With the election approaching, the stakes remain high, and observers say the government and opposition must work to ensure that the vote proceeds peacefully and transparently, without further escalation of violence.
Tags: Editor's Pick Elections Uganda Bob Wine Politics
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FELIX MAKONA
FACT FINDER AND DATA DRIVEN JOURNALIST. DATA MINING AT IT'S BEST. GET FACTS RANGING FROM MATTERS DISABILITY AND INCLUSION, POLITICS, ECONOMY, SPORTS AND GENERAL NEWS AROUND THE WORLD