Uganda’s opposition leader, Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, has expressed fears for his life after soldiers allegedly surrounded his house on Friday night.
Wine, the presidential candidate of the National Unity Platform (NUP) in Thursday’s election, had earlier claimed victory in the presidential elections, rejecting as a “complete sham” early results that gave President Yoweri Museveni a wide lead.
Museveni, 76, is seeking a controversial sixth term in office after almost four decades in power. Wine, a former reggae star, has emerged as his main rival in a youthful country where most have known only one president.
Wine told journalists he felt under threat as soldiers surrounded his home on Friday, after they jumped over the fence of his compound following his first accusations of fraud to the press.
As the results came in, Wine said in an interview at his home that soldiers had beaten his security guard before taking up position around his house.
“They jumped over my fence. They came inside my compound. They are here right now. I don’t know why they’re here. But I’m imagining they are here to harm me. I feel threatened,” said the 38-year-old, who described the invasion as unprecedented and “a siege”.
He said he confronted the soldiers, who briefly cocked a gun at him and journalists, and refused to respond or leave.
The internet remained down for a third day as vote counting continued from Thursday’s poll, with provisional results from 39 percent of polling stations giving Museveni an early lead of 62 percent while Wine trailed with 29 percent, full results are expected on Saturday afternoon.
