The National Unity Platform (NUP) President Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine, has left the country after more than two months in hiding following the highly contested January 15th Presidential polls.
In a video shared on his official social media accounts on Saturday, Bobi Wine reveals that he has travelled to the diaspora for critical engagements and will be back soon to continue with his cause.
In the video, Bobi wine who has been in hiding since January 15th, initially thanks people who have been supporting and feeding him while in hiding, before revealing that he is set to hold a number of meetings with people outside the country.
“I thank all of you fellow Ugandans who have concealed and protected me for all this time when the regime was looking for me. Those of you who fed me, those who clothed me, and those who offered me shelter. I will not mention your names, but God bless you” he said.
He added, “Over the next few weeks, I will engage with our friends and allies all over the world before returning to Uganda to continue the push for freedom and democracy! For now, let’s remain focused and united”.
Bobi Wine further critiqued the country’s security organs for the continued roadblocks and raids on NUP party member’s homes and arrest of party members as they searched for his whereabouts.
“They have staged roadblocks everywhere, searching vehicles and even forcing motorcycle riders and their passengers to remove helmets, causing traffic jam and inconveniencing citizens, all on the orders of Museveni’s son” he said.
He added, “They have raided homes of my comrades, searching for me. I mean, just two days ago, they raided the home of my personal assistant, Comrade Don Shariff Najja and when they didn’t find me or him, they abducted his wife and she’s still missing up to the present. All this was caught on camera”.
The two time presidential candidate also criticised government for detaining and dismissing off the nine police officers that were assigned to him by the Electoral Commission during the campaigns.
“They were arrested, detained and now they’ve been dismissed from the police force with disgrace, apparently because they did not aid the regime in spying on me and preventing me from leaving my house on the 16th of January, even when the assignment was over and they were officially withdrawn on the 15th of January” he said.
Bobi Wine revealed that in his absence NUP deputy president, Dr. Alina Zedriga, who has just been released from prison, will be acting president.
“After doing my work on the international platform, I will return back to my country and let the regime do whatever they want to me in full view of the world. After all, I have not committed any crime” he said.
In recent weeks, security forces mounted checkpoints and vehicle inspections across parts of the Kampala Metropolitan Area, including Gayaza, prompting speculation among some residents that authorities were searching for the opposition leader.
However, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Acting Director of Defence Public Information, Colonel Chris Magezi denied that the operations were linked to Bobi Wine and the Military Police was meant to enforce traffic regulations.
