We are hunting for Bobi Wine; wanted dead or alive – Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba

Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has triggered widespread controversy after posting a series of late-night messages on X (formerly Twitter) in which he claimed that security forces were hunting opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine.

In posts made late Thursday night into Friday morning, Gen. Muhoozi stated that Bobi Wine was “wanted dead or alive,” adding that it did not matter how long it took for security forces to apprehend him. The remarks immediately sparked public outrage and renewed debate over the safety of opposition figures in Uganda.

Bobi Wine, the leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP), was President Yoweri Museveni’s main challenger in the January 15, 2026 presidential election, in which the Electoral Commission declared Museveni the winner with 72 per cent of the vote against Bobi Wine’s 24 per cent. Bobi Wine and his party rejected the results, citing widespread irregularities.

Gen. Muhoozi’s comments appeared to contradict repeated assurances by government and police officials who have previously denied that the state was pursuing or hunting the opposition leader.

In another post, the CDF shared an image showing a woman believed to be Barbie Kyagulanyi, Bobi Wine’s wife, seated under the watch of an armed man dressed in civilian clothing and a military vest. Gen. Muhoozi claimed that she had been briefly detained and later released, alleging that she “helped” security forces in locating her husband, a claim that has not been independently verified.

Gen. Muhoozi also issued a warning to foreign governments, cautioning that any attempt to assist Bobi Wine to leave the country would result in what he described as a “serious rupture” in diplomatic relations.

Responding to a query by Daudi Kabanda, the Member of Parliament for Kasambya County and Secretary General of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), Gen. Muhoozi said the group could “forgive rebels even on their deathbeds.” The PLU is a political pressure group aligned to Gen. Muhoozi.

Since the night following the election, Bobi Wine has not been seen publicly. Reports indicate that he left his residence in Magere, on the outskirts of Kampala, and has remained in hiding. Police, however, have consistently denied that security agencies are pursuing him.

Barbie Kyagulanyi has previously alleged that armed men raided her home, assaulted her, and searched the premises while demanding information about her husband’s whereabouts, claims that security agencies have not formally addressed.

Despite remaining out of public view, Bobi Wine has continued to post short videos on social media from undisclosed locations, maintaining that he is safe while accusing the government of intimidation and persecution.

As of publication, neither the UPDF nor the Uganda Police Force had issued an official statement clarifying or distancing themselves from Gen. Muhoozi’s remarks.