Bobi Wine Leaves Uganda After Two Months in Hiding Over Disputed Election

Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine has announced that he has left Uganda after spending two months in hiding following the country’s disputed presidential election held in January.

In a five-minute video posted on X, the opposition figure said he had travelled abroad for “critical engagements” and to rally international support against President Yoweri Museveni’s government.

Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, again rejected the official election results, insisting that the vote had been rigged in favour of Museveni, who has ruled the East African nation since 1986.

According to official results, the 81-year-old president secured about 72 percent of the vote. Museveni has accused the opposition of attempting to overturn the outcome through violence.

Wine’s video message marked his first public appearance in weeks after reports that security forces were searching for him.

Although some government officials have denied that authorities were pursuing the opposition leader, Museveni’s son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba—who serves as head of the country’s military—previously posted messages on social media claiming Wine was “wanted dead or alive” and threatening him. The posts were later deleted, and no specific charges were mentioned.

Wine alleged that security forces had repeatedly raided the homes of his supporters in search of him and had set up roadblocks across the country. He also said his residence in the capital, Kampala, remained under military surveillance since election day.

“I thank all you fellow Ugandans who have concealed and protected me all the time while the regime was looking for me,” he said in the video, insisting that he had committed no crime. “Running for president is not a crime.”

Following protests over the election results, Kainerugaba said that about 30 people he described as “terrorists” linked to Wine’s party had been killed, further heightening tensions in the country.