Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine says he has left the country after spending nearly two months in hiding following the disputed 2026 presidential election.

Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, announced his departure in a video shared on social media on Saturday, March 14, 2026. In the message, he said he travelled abroad for what he called “critical engagements” and promised to return.

“Fellow Ugandans and friends of Uganda all over the world, by the time you see this video, I will have left the country for some critical engagements outside Uganda,” he said.

“And at the right time, I will come back and continue with the cause.”

Going into hiding

Wine said he went into hiding shortly after the election results were announced. The opposition leader accused the government of trying to arrest him after he rejected the outcome of the vote.

“Two months ago, Museveni yet again usurped the will of the people of Uganda and declared himself president on gunpoint,” he claimed.

“A day later, gripped by shame and fear, the military invaded my home to harm me, but I was able to evade them and go into hiding.”

According to Wine, security forces spent weeks searching for him across the country. He said authorities set up roadblocks, searched vehicles and raided the homes of his allies.

“Over the past two months, the regime has looked for me everywhere,” he said.

“They have mounted roadblocks and spot checks of vehicles and motorcycles, and raided the homes of many colleagues and fellow leaders.”

Wine also claimed security forces targeted people close to him while searching for his whereabouts.

“They have raided homes of my comrades searching for me,” he said. “Just two days ago, they raided the home of my personal assistant, Comrade Don Sheriff Najja. When they didn’t find me or him, they abducted his wife, and she is still missing up to the present.”

Wine claimed the search failed because ordinary citizens helped hide him.

“It’s laughable that for almost two months the entire security apparatus of Uganda has invested billions of taxpayers’ money to search for me everywhere, but they failed to get me,” he said.

“Why? Because the people have protected me.”

He thanked supporters who helped him stay safe during the period he remained out of public view.

“I thank all of you fellow Ugandans who have concealed and protected me for all this time when the regime was looking for me,” he said.

“Those of you who fed me, those who clothed me, and those who offered me shelter, I will not mention your names, but God bless you.”

Wine also said some members of the security services quietly helped him avoid arrest.

“I thank the men and women in uniform who defied the illegal orders and instead of arresting me, gave me the information that I needed to keep safe,” he said.

Disputed Uganda election results

The opposition leader insisted that he won the 2026 election and accused the government of rigging the vote.

“We won the 2026 presidential election,” he said. “We won it and Museveni rigged it.”

Uganda’s Electoral Commission declared long-time president Yoweri Museveni the winner with 71.65 per cent of the vote, about 7.95 million ballots. Wine officially received 24.72 per cent, around 2.74 million votes, but he rejected the result and described the election as fraudulent.

Bobi Wine said security forces raided his home in Magere, near Kampala, soon after the results were announced. He said he managed to escape during the raid.

“They raided my home on the 16th of January, but I was able to escape from them,” he said.

He also claimed soldiers later returned and attacked members of his family.

“A few days later they conducted another raid,” he said. “In this raid, they assaulted my wife and family members, vandalised our house and occupied our home.”

House still under military control

The politician said the house remains under military control.

Bobi Wine added that he decided to leave Uganda for a short time in order to raise international support.

“We decided to fight back not only within the country, but also internationally,” he said.

He said he plans to lobby foreign governments and organisations and push for sanctions against officials in the Ugandan government.

“Among the things that we hope to pursue are targeted sanctions against Museveni and his enablers,” he said.

Bobi Wine also told supporters in the diaspora to prepare for meetings and advocacy work in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, he said leadership duties in the opposition movement would continue at home.

“In my absence, my deputy president Dr Alina Zedriga will be acting president,” he said.

Despite leaving the country, Wine insisted that his struggle against the government would continue and that he intends to return.

“After doing my work on the international platform, I will return back to my country,” he said.

“For now, I ask you comrades to remain firm, remain united and keep the hope alive.”