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Uganda’s information minister has publicly criticized a military operation at the home of opposition leader Bobi Wine, saying the raid was unjustified and confirming that the former pop star-turned-politician has not committed any crime, as authorities face renewed scrutiny over the conduct of security forces following last month’s presidential election.
Chris Baryomunsi, who also serves as the government’s spokesperson, told Reuters that Wine was free to return to his residence in Kampala, where soldiers had carried out an operation in late January. His comments came weeks after Wine went into hiding, fleeing his home in the capital hours before official results declared him the runner-up to President Yoweri Museveni in the January 15 vote. The raid, which took place on January 24, triggered widespread condemnation from opposition figures and civil society groups after Wine alleged that soldiers stormed his residence and assaulted his wife. In a statement that day, Wine said she had been taken to hospital after being partially undressed and choked by security personnel during the operation.
Uganda’s military leadership initially rejected the account. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the country’s army chief and Museveni’s son, denied that soldiers had assaulted Wine’s wife. He later acknowledged in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that she had been “captured and then released,” without providing further details about the circumstances or legal basis for the operation.
Baryomunsi said the government would investigate what happened, stressing that abuses by security forces would not be tolerated. “We do not condone any acts of indiscipline on the side of the army and security forces,” he said in an interview. “So invading his home, causing damage, assaulting his wife, or anybody, is wrong.” He declined to say whether any officers would face disciplinary or criminal sanctions if wrongdoing were established. There has been no public disclosure of findings from any investigation, and no timeline has been announced for its completion. A spokesperson for Wine’s National Unity Platform party did not respond to calls or messages seeking comment on the government’s statements or the status of Wine’s whereabouts. Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, emerged as Museveni’s most prominent challenger in the election and has rejected the outcome, alleging widespread fraud and irregularities. The electoral commission declared Museveni the winner, extending his rule beyond four decades in power. The government has denied allegations of manipulation, maintaining that the vote was free and fair.
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Kainerugaba has stated on social media that the military is searching for Wine. He has not explained why security forces are seeking him, nor has he identified any criminal charges that might be brought. Baryomunsi said the opposition leader had not committed any offense and emphasized that there was no legal basis for preventing him from returning home.
Human rights organizations and opposition parties have long accused the Ugandan government of deploying the military and security agencies to intimidate critics and suppress opposition. Those allegations have intensified in the aftermath of successive elections, particularly since Wine entered frontline politics and mobilized a large youth following. The government has consistently rejected such claims, arguing that security operations are lawful and necessary to maintain public order.
The controversy surrounding the raid has also renewed attention on Kainerugaba’s public role and influence. As commander of the armed forces and the president’s son, he has become a powerful and sometimes polarizing figure in Ugandan politics. He has a record of issuing provocative statements on social media, several of which he later deletes. In past posts, Kainerugaba has threatened violence against political opponents and made unverified claims about the military’s actions against opposition supporters. He has previously said the army had killed dozens of people linked to the opposition, remarks that were not independently substantiated and drew criticism from rights groups and political leaders.
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Beyond domestic politics, Baryomunsi also sought to clarify Uganda’s position on regional security commitments, addressing recent comments by Kainerugaba about the country’s military role in Somalia. The army chief had threatened in a post last week to withdraw Ugandan troops from an African Union mission fighting jihadist groups in Somalia, citing funding disputes.
Baryomunsi said there were no plans to pull out Uganda’s contingent, contradicting Kainerugaba’s remarks and underscoring divisions between official government policy and statements made by senior military figures on social media. Uganda is one of the largest troop contributors to the African Union mission, which has been central to efforts to combat the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab group for more than a decade.
The government has not indicated any formal review of its Somalia deployment, and no official decision-making process has been announced in response to the army chief’s comments.
For now, Wine remains in hiding, and no formal charges have been brought against him. Authorities have not issued any warrant or court document justifying the military’s search for the opposition leader, and no explanation has been provided for the operation at his home.
Baryomunsi said the government’s position was that Wine was free to move and return to his residence without restriction, adding that any misconduct by security forces would be handled through established legal and disciplinary procedures.
The next steps in the case remain unclear. Officials have not specified when the investigation into the raid will conclude, and no public hearings or judicial proceedings have been announced.
