Musician and entrepreneur Banjo Man, the elder brother of opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has revealed that the family has completely lost contact with him, weeks after the January 15 general election.
Speaking in an emotional interview, Banjo Man said the family does not know Bobi Wine’s current whereabouts, describing the situation as distressing and frightening. He noted that they only see him through social media, just like the rest of the country.
“We don’t know where our brother is. His phones are off. We only see him the same way other Ugandans do—through his social media posts,” Banjo Man said.
Bobi Wine, the president of the National Unity Platform (NUP), has repeatedly alleged that he is under threat from Uganda’s military leadership. In a series of online posts and videos, he has accused the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, of leading a manhunt against him.
According to Bobi Wine, soldiers allegedly laid siege to his home, forcing him to flee under what he described as dangerous circumstances. Since then, his known phone lines have remained unreachable, heightening concern among family members, supporters, and human rights observers.
Banjo Man said the prolonged uncertainty has taken a heavy emotional toll on the family, especially amid continued online statements suggesting that security forces are still interested in Bobi Wine.
“This situation is terrible for us as a family. Not knowing where your loved one is, or whether they are safe, is extremely painful,” he said.
Further confusion has been caused by contradictory statements from Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba. In a recent social media post, the CDF claimed that the search for Bobi Wine had been halted on the orders of President Yoweri Museveni, alleging that the opposition leader had chosen to surrender himself.
However, there has been no public appearance, official statement, or confirmation from Bobi Wine or his legal team to support claims that he has surrendered. As of now, questions remain unanswered regarding Bobi Wine’s safety, location, and the true status of the alleged military pursuit, leaving the nation watching closely as events continue to unfold.
