I've not changed clothes in days – Bobi Wine laments in hiding as Muhoozi demands surrender

Opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has revealed that he has been living in hiding for several days, saying he has not even been able to change his clothes as security pressure mounts around him. 

Speaking to Al Jazeera in an interview conducted from an undisclosed location, Bobi Wine said he fled his home shortly after last Friday’s election after what he described as an intense military and police crackdown targeting him and his family.

“I am alive; I don’t know how my family is. I would love to be in my home. I have not changed my clothes in days,” Bobi Wine said. 

“I want to be home and free. I want to take care of my people. But the military and police have taken over my home. This is a crackdown to intimidate, silence and subdue the forces of change.”

Bobi Wine and his wife, Barbie Itungo Kyagulanyi, allege that their home in Magere was broken into by security operatives who reportedly replaced the locks. 

Barbie, who remains at the house with their children, accused the officers of being abusive and behaving unprofessionally, claiming some appeared to be under the influence of alcohol as family members protested the operation.

The developments come as the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, publicly demanded that the National Unity Platform (NUP) leader surrender himself to the authorities.

In a post on social media, Muhoozi issued a 48-hour ultimatum, warning that failure to comply would see Bobi Wine treated as an outlaw or rebel.

“I am giving him exactly 48 hours to surrender himself to the police. If he doesn’t we will treat him as an outlaw/rebel and handle him accordingly,” Muhoozi posted 

Bobi Wine however, replied to this post in defiance writing, “I will resurface when I decide. Then you and your father can do whatever you want to me. But make no mistake, you will never escape the inevitable consequences of your atrocities against the people of Uganda. This is our country!”