Archival Sense
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- Dec 16, 2025
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The president of the National Unity Platform, Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, has said he has no plans to negotiate with the Ugandan government for his freedom, insisting that his political activities are legitimate and protected by law.
Speaking in a virtual interview with France 24 TV on Tuesday, March 24, Mr Kyagulanyi, who is currently in Washington after leaving Uganda following the January 15 presidential election, emphasized that his freedom and the legitimacy of his political party are not matters for negotiation.
"We don't need any negotiation for our political party (NUP) to he recognised. The law is not be negotiated. The law is the law, and according to the laws of Uganda and internationally, we're a legitimate political party. We have never been disagreeable to dialogue. We are for dialogue but we don't believe in transactional dialogue. We believe in constructive and principled dialogue. I'm not going to negotiate [for] my freedom, my freedom has to be guaranteed," Mr Kyagulanyi said.
The Electoral Commission of Uganda declared Yoweri Museveni the winner of the January 15 election with 71.65 percent of the 11.3 million votes cast, extending his rule to more than four decades. It was President Museveni’s highest score in elections held since the restoration of multiparty politics 20 years ago.
Mr Kyagulanyi did not file an election petition before the Supreme Court but instead rejected the results on social media, citing a climate of fear during the election period. He pointed to the abduction of his party’s polling agents, arrests of supporters, a four-day internet blackout, and alleged ballot stuffing, some of which were captured on camera and circulated on social media platforms.
He reportedly evaded security surveillance at his home after casting his ballot and went into hiding. In an unprecedented move on the night of January 23, security personnel, some dressed in Uganda People’s Defence Forces attire, reportedly stormed his home in Magere, vandalised property, and harassed his wife, Ms Itunga, in an attempt to force her to reveal his whereabouts. Pictures shared on social media showed damaged sections of the house and broken doors, an incident that drew widespread condemnation and disagreement among some senior government officials, while security forces maintained a siege on the home.
Mr Kyagulanyi later left the country in late January and resurfaced in the United States, where he said he and his party were engaging with senior officials in Washington. During the interview, he was asked whether he was ready to return to Uganda despite facing direct attacks from security forces and remarks from the head of the army, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who reportedly said he was looking for him while he was in hiding.
In response, Mr Kyagulanyi said he intends to return to Uganda and continue his political struggle.
"I intend to go back to my country; my fight is in Uganda. My work is in Uganda and my citizenship is in Uganda. I'm a Ugandan and I have to go back to my country. However, I'm supposed to be in Uganda as a free citizen, not as a person who must beg for my freedom," he said.
After more than two months, state security on Tuesday, March 24 vacated Mr Kyagulanyi’s home in Magere, where security forces had maintained a siege following the disputed January 15 presidential election that was conducted under an internet blackout.
Speaking in a virtual interview with France 24 TV on Tuesday, March 24, Mr Kyagulanyi, who is currently in Washington after leaving Uganda following the January 15 presidential election, emphasized that his freedom and the legitimacy of his political party are not matters for negotiation.
"We don't need any negotiation for our political party (NUP) to he recognised. The law is not be negotiated. The law is the law, and according to the laws of Uganda and internationally, we're a legitimate political party. We have never been disagreeable to dialogue. We are for dialogue but we don't believe in transactional dialogue. We believe in constructive and principled dialogue. I'm not going to negotiate [for] my freedom, my freedom has to be guaranteed," Mr Kyagulanyi said.
The Electoral Commission of Uganda declared Yoweri Museveni the winner of the January 15 election with 71.65 percent of the 11.3 million votes cast, extending his rule to more than four decades. It was President Museveni’s highest score in elections held since the restoration of multiparty politics 20 years ago.
Mr Kyagulanyi did not file an election petition before the Supreme Court but instead rejected the results on social media, citing a climate of fear during the election period. He pointed to the abduction of his party’s polling agents, arrests of supporters, a four-day internet blackout, and alleged ballot stuffing, some of which were captured on camera and circulated on social media platforms.
He reportedly evaded security surveillance at his home after casting his ballot and went into hiding. In an unprecedented move on the night of January 23, security personnel, some dressed in Uganda People’s Defence Forces attire, reportedly stormed his home in Magere, vandalised property, and harassed his wife, Ms Itunga, in an attempt to force her to reveal his whereabouts. Pictures shared on social media showed damaged sections of the house and broken doors, an incident that drew widespread condemnation and disagreement among some senior government officials, while security forces maintained a siege on the home.
Mr Kyagulanyi later left the country in late January and resurfaced in the United States, where he said he and his party were engaging with senior officials in Washington. During the interview, he was asked whether he was ready to return to Uganda despite facing direct attacks from security forces and remarks from the head of the army, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who reportedly said he was looking for him while he was in hiding.
In response, Mr Kyagulanyi said he intends to return to Uganda and continue his political struggle.
"I intend to go back to my country; my fight is in Uganda. My work is in Uganda and my citizenship is in Uganda. I'm a Ugandan and I have to go back to my country. However, I'm supposed to be in Uganda as a free citizen, not as a person who must beg for my freedom," he said.
After more than two months, state security on Tuesday, March 24 vacated Mr Kyagulanyi’s home in Magere, where security forces had maintained a siege following the disputed January 15 presidential election that was conducted under an internet blackout.
