Uganda’s police force has vehemently denied allegations that opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, widely known as Bobi Wine, was abducted by security forces, directly contradicting claims made by his National Unity Platform (NUP) party and escalating a fraught political crisis gripping the East African nation.
The rebuttal, issued early Sunday, plunges Uganda deeper into a showdown over political legitimacy, security authority, and citizen trust in the wake of last week’s contested presidential election.
The denial comes after NUP officials alleged that military operatives forcibly removed Wine from his Kampala residence using an army helicopter—an account that sparked domestic shock and international attention. In a public statement, the Uganda Police Force called the abduction narrative “unfounded and malicious,” asserting that Wine is neither under detention nor in the custody of security agencies. Police emphasized that normal communication channels with the opposition leader remain intact and that he is free to move and engage with officials.
The statement accused NUP of circulating “misleading information designed to incite public disorder” and stressed that all law enforcement operations have been conducted within legal frameworks. Police spokespeople also noted that security deployments around political figures have been precautionary, not punitive, as the country confronts heightened tensions after Thursday’s election.
Experts in politics are of the opinion that the differing versions of events are nothing but a sign of a battle for control over the narrative going on at a very critical moment in the history of Uganda.
President Museveni, at 81 years of age, is said to be way ahead of his rivals in the unofficial counting of votes, while the supporters of Wine have claimed that there is a lot of fraud taking place, intimidation of voters by police and soldiers, and lack of proper media coverage as reasons for the unequal voting atmosphere. The public has become anxious, and international observers have started to scrutinize the situation due to these conflicting assertions.
The leaders of the National Unity Platform (NUP) party have said that they are still maintaining their original report and have accused the police of hiding the truth and warned that the security agencies’ contradictory statements could further weaken the public’s trust in them.
The party has invited the regional organizations and the human rights watchdogs to come in, asserting that it is absolutely necessary to conduct a trustworthy verification of Wine’s situation and whereabouts in order to pacify the growing tensions.
The fight for the election has been a major factor behind the police and the public arguing about political liberty and law enforcement in Uganda’s divided society.
Both sides seem to be prepared to remain there; nevertheless, the observers are pointing out that if the misinformation is allowed to spread and the distrust between the institutions continues, it would lead to unrest and would hinder diplomatic engagement. More developments are anticipated as the local and global players will be looking for the situation to be clarified.
Leave a Reply