Uganda Law Society condemns Bobi Wine's alleged house arrest

The ULS alleged that state officers were deployed around the residence in Magere, Wakiso District, effectively barring access to or exit from the premises and preventing essential supplies, including food, from reaching his household.

It added that the officers have subjected his family and other occupants to house arrest and unlawful restrictions. 

"The Uganda Police Force has sought to dismiss these restrictions as necessary for "security" or protective measures," said in a statement.

ULS argued that the restrictions are blatant violations of rights to personal liberty, freedom of movement, and the right to an adequate standard of living, including access to food and basic necessities.

It further cited the alarming comments made by the head of Uganda’s armed forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the outspoken son of President Yoweri Museveni, after declaring on X that he wanted Wine dead.

"We have killed 22 NUP terrorists since last week. I’m praying the 23rd is Kabobi,” Kainerugaba wrote late Monday on X, using a derogatory nickname for Wine and referring to his National Unity Platform party.

ULS opined that the statement represents a dangerous escalation of impunity and the abuse of the rule of law, arguing that electoral disagreements should not warrant isolated targeting and harassment.

The Society therefore called for the immediate cessation of Wine's confinement, calling on all security forces to act within the confines of the Constitution, respect democratic processes, and uphold human rights.

"Ugandans deserve a society where political leadership is contested on the basis of ideas, policies, and respect for rule of law, not through tactics of coercion, deprivations, or threats to life and sustenance," ULS added.

President Museveni, 81, won a seventh term to extend his rule into a fifth decade with a landslide victory rejected by the opposition.

The electoral body on Saturday declared Museveni the winner of Thursday's poll with 71.6% of the vote, while Wine was credited with 24% of the vote.

Wine's whereabouts were unknown early on Sunday after he said in a post on X that he had escaped a raid by the military on his home. People close to him told Reuters on Saturday he remained at an undisclosed location in Uganda. Wine was briefly held under house arrest following the previous election in 2021.

Wine has said hundreds of his supporters were detained during the months leading up to the vote and that others have been tortured.