"Ugandan opposition leader 'taken by army' as Museveni nears re-election"
In a dramatic turn of events, Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine has been forcibly taken from his home in Kampala by the military, according to his party. The incident comes just hours after President Yoweri Museveni was declared the winner of the recent presidential election with nearly 74% of the vote.
Wine's National Unity Platform (NUP) party claimed that an army helicopter landed at Wine's compound and "forcibly took him away" to an unknown location. The claim has yet to be verified, but senior party officials have confirmed that Wine had been placed under effective house arrest by security forces earlier in the week.
The opposition leader had alleged widespread fraud during the election, which was held under a strict internet blackout, and called on supporters to protest. However, voting passed relatively peacefully on Thursday, with analysts having long viewed the election as a formality given Museveni's tight grip on power and control over the security apparatus.
Museveni has been in power since 1986 and has ruthlessly crushed any challenger during his rule. He had told reporters after casting his ballot that he expected to win with 80% of the vote if there was "no cheating".
Wine, who emerged as a main challenger to Museveni in recent years, styles himself the "ghetto president" due to his roots in informal settlements of Kampala where he grew up. His arrest has sparked fears of further repression and intimidation by security forces.
The international community has long been critical of Uganda's electoral processes, with the UN describing the election as marred by widespread repression and intimidation. The outcome of the election is now set to be finalized on Saturday, with final results due by 0200 GMT.
Wine's situation remains unclear at this time, but his arrest highlights the deepening tensions between the opposition and Museveni's government.
In a dramatic turn of events, Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine has been forcibly taken from his home in Kampala by the military, according to his party. The incident comes just hours after President Yoweri Museveni was declared the winner of the recent presidential election with nearly 74% of the vote.
Wine's National Unity Platform (NUP) party claimed that an army helicopter landed at Wine's compound and "forcibly took him away" to an unknown location. The claim has yet to be verified, but senior party officials have confirmed that Wine had been placed under effective house arrest by security forces earlier in the week.
The opposition leader had alleged widespread fraud during the election, which was held under a strict internet blackout, and called on supporters to protest. However, voting passed relatively peacefully on Thursday, with analysts having long viewed the election as a formality given Museveni's tight grip on power and control over the security apparatus.
Museveni has been in power since 1986 and has ruthlessly crushed any challenger during his rule. He had told reporters after casting his ballot that he expected to win with 80% of the vote if there was "no cheating".
Wine, who emerged as a main challenger to Museveni in recent years, styles himself the "ghetto president" due to his roots in informal settlements of Kampala where he grew up. His arrest has sparked fears of further repression and intimidation by security forces.
The international community has long been critical of Uganda's electoral processes, with the UN describing the election as marred by widespread repression and intimidation. The outcome of the election is now set to be finalized on Saturday, with final results due by 0200 GMT.
Wine's situation remains unclear at this time, but his arrest highlights the deepening tensions between the opposition and Museveni's government.
. Like, what even is the point of having an election if the winner's just gonna get "helped" by the military? 
It's like they're saying, "Hey, we've got this election rigged, but don't worry about it, we'll just take care of any opposition leaders that try to speak out." It's super concerning that Museveni's been in power for so long and still hasn't shown any signs of letting go. And now Bobi Wine's just been... taken away 
. I mean, what's next? The international community needs to step up their criticism of Uganda's electoral processes - it's time someone held Museveni accountable for this kind of thing.
He had some beef with Museveni, called for protests... now he's gone missing and nobody knows where. Classic move from the regime. And let's not forget the internet blackout - a perfect excuse to suppress dissent. The international community needs to keep an eye on this one... it smells like another rigged election 
Man, what's going on in Uganda?! Bobi Wine gets taken away like that? That's straight outta a dystopian movie 
. I mean, I knew Museveni was a tough act to follow, but this is just ridiculous 
. Wine had some major issues with the election process and now he's being silenced 
. It's not good for Uganda or its people. The international community needs to step in ASAP 
. This doesn't look like democracy at all 
. I'm keeping an eye on this situation, it's gonna be interesting to see how it plays out 
.
what's going on in Uganda??? 
he had every right to protest 
and now he's just... gone 
but taking action against someone who spoke out seems really extreme 
And Wine's party is just trying to stir up drama, like they're trying to be all edgy and stuff. Newsflash: it didn't work! 
. I mean it's not like anyone was gonna challenge him after all these years of being in power, right? And now they're saying he expects to win with even more than that if there wasn't any cheating? pretty bold move 
, and now he's gone without a fight 
, this is just more proof that Museveni doesn't care about his people 
, international community needs to step in and put some pressure on him 
, Wine's safety is the priority right now 
, can't believe the UN called out Uganda's electoral processes in the past 
. The fact that the international community is already criticizing Uganda's election processes isn't helping 
.
is straight outta movie scene... like what even is going on here?! 
I'm so done with Museveni's regime 
he's been in power for like 40 yrs? that's crazy! no one should be able to just keep re-electioning themselves over and over. Wine's right to speak out against the election results tho 
it's messed up what's happening to him. army helicopters landing on ppl's homes? 
that's some serious Orwellian vibes. hope he gets released ASAP 
anyone who tries to challenge him just gets silenced or "taken away" like bobi wine 
the international community needs to do more to hold him accountable for his human rights abuses 
and now wine's in the middle of nowhere with no one knowing what's happening to him... this is so concerning