EXCLUSIVE: Bobi Wine Says Uganda’s Election Is “A War Against Me”

EXCLUSIVE: Bobi Wine Says Uganda’s Election Is “A War Against Me”

Kampala, Uganda — Opposition leader Bobi Wine has told CNN that Uganda’s upcoming election is nothing short of “a war against me,” accusing security forces of unleashing violence on him and his supporters.

Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, described a climate of fear and intimidation as authorities continue to crack down on his campaign activities. During one of his rallies, CNN journalists reported being caught in clouds of tear gas as police dispersed crowds gathered to hear him speak.

“General Museveni sees Uganda as his personal property and us as his slaves,” Wine said, referring to President Yoweri Museveni, who has ruled the country since 1986.

The opposition figure has long accused Museveni’s government of using state institutions to suppress dissent, citing repeated arrests, harassment of campaign staff, and violent dispersal of rallies. Human rights groups have echoed concerns, warning that the election environment is increasingly hostile to free expression and assembly.

Museveni’s administration, however, insists that security measures are necessary to maintain public order, often framing opposition gatherings as unlawful or a threat to stability.

With tensions rising, the election is shaping up to be one of the most contentious in Uganda’s recent history. Wine’s defiant rhetoric underscores the stakes: a generational struggle between a youthful opposition movement and a president who has held power for nearly four decades.