In a statement released on Tuesday, Mr Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, said the military forced its way into his residence in Magere, Wakiso District, overnight. He said the deployment now covers the house itself, the compound, and the surrounding area.
“They’re now fully occupying our entire home, inside, outside, and around it,” he wrote on X.
The latest operation, Mr Wine added, follows an earlier raid on 23 January, when armed men allegedly broke into the house, damaged property and seized personal items and documents. Since then, he said, no member of his family has been allowed back inside.
“We are still unable to assess the extent of the destruction caused to the house when they first broke it and vandalised it,” he said. “None of our family members has ever been allowed to access it since the attack happened.”
Without access, he said, the family cannot tell what was taken or why. No official inventory has been provided, he added.
Mr Wine, who leads the National Unity Platform (NUP), framed the episode as part of a broader pattern of pressure on opposition figures. He pointed to arrests of supporters, disruptions of party events and heavy security around his movements as signs of sustained intimidation.
Security agencies had not responded publicly to the allegations by the time of publication. In previous cases, authorities have said such deployments are necessary to preserve public order, often accusing opposition politicians of stirring unrest. Mr Wine and his party have consistently denied those claims.
Human rights activists and opposition lawmakers reacted with concern, calling for an end to what they described as an unlawful occupation of private property. Some urged Parliament and oversight bodies to intervene, warning that the situation risks eroding constitutional protections and respect for the rule of law.
A former pop star turned politician, Mr Wine emerged as President Yoweri Museveni’s main challenger in the 2021 election and has since remained a central figure in Uganda’s opposition. His Magere home has previously been placed under security cordon during moments of political tension.
The latest incident comes as opposition groups step up mobilisation and as Uganda’s human rights record faces renewed scrutiny from regional and international observers.
By Tuesday afternoon, it was still unclear how long the military would remain at the property, or when the family might be allowed to return. Mr Wine said he would continue to document events and speak out, urging Ugandans and the international community to “pay attention” and demand accountability.
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