Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine has claimed he escaped a nighttime raid on his home in Magere, as tensions rose following the country’s presidential election held on 15 January 2026.

In a statement released on Saturday, January 17, 2026, Bobi Wine said police officers and unidentified individuals in plain clothes carried out the operation late at night. He claimed they climbed over the perimeter fence using ladders, cut off electricity to the house, disabled security cameras and used a helicopter overhead to provide light.

Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, recorded an audio message at around 9 a.m. in which he said he and his wife had been under house arrest since election day.

However, he narrated that he used his skills to beat the officers’ dragnet and escaped to a safe place.

“My wife and I have been under house arrest since the 15th of January when we had elections,” he said. “Yesterday our house was raided. Amidst the raid I was able to use my skills and escape my house, but I know they are looking for me.”

Video message recorded from a safe place, to the people of Uganda and the world about the goings on in our country! #FreeUgandaNow pic.twitter.com/s5t6LPMkMG

— BOBI WINE (@HEBobiwine) January 17, 2026

Museveni’s early lead

His statement came as Uganda’s Electoral Commission, chaired by Simon Byabakama, announced preliminary results showing President Yoweri Museveni with a strong lead. Bobi Wine rejected the results, accusing the commission of announcing figures that did not reflect what happened at polling stations.

“We reject whatever is being declared by Byabakama because those so-called results are fake,” he said. “They do not in any way reflect what is on the declaration forms.”

He accused the government of arresting opposition agents, stuffing ballots and shutting down the internet to manipulate the vote. Uganda experienced widespread internet restrictions before and after polling day, limiting access to social media and messaging platforms.

Calls for internet restoration

Bobi Wine demanded the immediate restoration of internet access, saying it was necessary for transparency. He said official declaration forms and tally sheets from districts should be uploaded online so the public could verify the results. He also called for the Electoral Commission to stop declaring results until transparency was restored.

The opposition leader also raised concerns about post-election violence. He claimed several people were killed in different parts of the country. Bobi Wine urged Ugandans to oppose what he described as election rigging through non-violent action. He also criticised sections of the media, accusing them of ignoring protests, arrests and deaths across the country.

“We want to call upon the people of Uganda to reject these fake results,” he said, urging citizens to protest peacefully and demand what he described as the rightful outcome of the election.