Kampala — Opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has accused the government of mounting what he described as an “unjustified manhunt” against him, while thanking ordinary Ugandans for helping to keep him safe amid heightened security operations.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the National Unity Platform (NUP) leader said he continues to move through different parts of the country despite what he termed persistent efforts by the State to track him down.
“Despite the ongoing unjustified manhunt by the criminal regime, I am grateful to the common people who I meet daily for trying to shield me and keep me safe,” Bobi Wine said.
The opposition leader revealed that on Sunday he travelled to Gomba District to visit his home area and check on relatives, describing widespread security deployments along the way.
“Yesterday as I travelled to Gomba District to pay a visit to our home and check on my relatives, I passed by many roadblocks mounted on different roads. The inconvenience on road users is terrible,” he said.
He criticised the impact of the roadblocks on ordinary citizens, saying they had caused unnecessary disruption to daily life.
In his statement, Bobi Wine urged authorities to abandon efforts to pursue him, insisting that he would re-emerge on his own terms.
“I advise the regime to stop looking for me — I will resurface at an appropriate time,” he said.
He further called on the government to relinquish power peacefully and allow citizens to determine the country’s political future.
“The best they would do is to peacefully relinquish power and let the people of Uganda decide their own destiny,” Bobi Wine added.
He warned that failure to do so would have consequences, stating: “Short of that, they will face the inevitable fate of all despots before them.”
The statement comes amid continued political tension following recent developments involving opposition figures and security agencies. Government officials have previously denied claims of persecution, maintaining that law enforcement actions are conducted within the law.
At the time of publication, security agencies had not issued a response to Bobi Wine’s latest remarks.
