Uganda’s army chief, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has denied claims that soldiers assaulted the wife of opposition leader Bobi Wine during a raid on the couple’s home following the country’s disputed election.
In a post on X on Monday, Gen Kainerugaba said his troops had not beaten Barbara Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Barbie Kyagulanyi.
“My soldiers did not beat up Barbie,” he wrote, adding: “We are looking for her cowardly husband, not her.”
The comments come amid heightened political tensions after President Yoweri Museveni was declared the winner of the 15 January presidential election.
Since the result was announced, Gen Kainerugaba — who is also President Museveni’s son — has publicly demanded that Mr Wine surrender and has issued threats against him.
Mr Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, said on Monday that the army chief was still looking for him and “issuing threats to harm me”.
“My wife is still recovering from the trauma of an overnight raid and assault,” he said in a post on X, adding that his home remained surrounded by the military.
‘Dragged and beaten’
From her hospital bed, Ms Kyagulanyi described how dozens of men, some wearing military uniform, broke into her home late at night.
She said she was harassed and assaulted by the men, alleging that one officer hit her in the face, tearing her lip, while another lifted her by the waistband of her trousers as she was choked.
Ms Kyagulanyi said her blouse was pulled off, leaving her partially naked, before it was later returned. She added that she lost consciousness following the attack.
Mr Wine said his wife was taken to hospital with both physical and psychological injuries.
Arrests and killings alleged
Since the election, the opposition has accused Uganda’s security forces of targeting supporters of the National Unity Party (NUP), which is led by Mr Wine.
Gen Kainerugaba said on Friday that security forces had killed 30 NUP supporters and detained about 2,000 others.
The opposition disputes the claims and says its supporters are being subjected to arbitrary arrests, torture and enforced disappearances.
Last week, opposition lawmaker Muwanga Kivumbi, a close ally of Mr Wine, was arrested over his alleged role in election-related violence — an accusation his party denies.
The Uganda Law Society said on Sunday that it was concerned by what it described as an “ongoing wave of detentions, torture and enforced disappearances”.
“No one should be subjected to violence by security forces under the pretext of national security,” the society said.
Uganda has never experienced a peaceful transfer of presidential power since independence.
President Museveni first took power as a rebel leader in 1986 and, if he completes his next term, will have ruled the country for 45 years by 2031.
