Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine has reportedly been taken by the army from his home to an unknown location, his National Unity Platform (NUP) party said on Friday, as President Yoweri Museveni moves toward a commanding reelection victory.
According to the NUP, an army helicopter landed at Wine’s compound in the capital, Kampala, and forcibly removed him. Reuters has not independently verified the report, and senior party officials noted that they also lack confirmation. Government and military spokespeople did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Wine has alleged mass fraud during Thursday’s election, held under a nationwide internet blackout, and called for protests. He was reportedly placed under effective house arrest prior to the army intervention.
The vote has been widely regarded as a measure of Museveni’s enduring political strength. The 81-year-old president, in power since 1986, held nearly 74% of the vote as of Friday evening, according to the electoral commission, while Wine trailed at 23%.
Violence Reported in Butambala
Overnight clashes in Butambala, about 55 km southwest of Kampala, left multiple people dead, though reports on the circumstances differ. Police spokesperson Lydia Tumushabe claimed opposition supporters armed with machetes attacked a police station and vote-tallying center, prompting security to respond in self-defense and arrest 25 people.
Opposition MP Muwanga Kivumbi offered a different account, alleging that 10 people were killed inside his house around 3 a.m. while awaiting the announcement of his parliamentary election results. He described the attack as a targeted shooting, disputing police claims of clashes outside the property.
Reuters was unable to independently confirm either account of the violence, and the situation remains tense.
The election has drawn international attention, with human rights organizations citing widespread repression, intimidation, and restrictions on opposition activities throughout the campaign.
