Reject fake election results, Bobi Wine says as he resurfaces after military raid

Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine has resurfaced after what he described as a military-style raid on his home, accusing security forces of placing him and his wife under house arrest and attempting to rig Uganda’s presidential election.

Addressing a press conference at Kavule on Saturday, January 17, the National Unity Platform (NUP) leader said armed security personnel raided his residence a day earlier, cutting off electricity, disabling surveillance cameras, and using ladders to scale the perimeter wall. He also claimed a military helicopter hovered above his home during the operation.

“Today, Saturday, January 17, 2026, it’s 9:00am. My wife and I have been under house arrest since January 15, 2026, when we had elections, and yesterday our house was raided by police officers together with unknown individuals,” Bobi Wine said in a video shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account.

Bobi Wine rejects election results

Bobi Wine strongly rejected the election results being announced by Electoral Commission chairperson Simon Byabakama, describing them as fake election results that do not reflect what happened at polling stations across the country.

“We reject whatever is being declared by Simon Byabakama because those so-called results are fake and don’t reflect what happened at the polling stations,” he stated.

The opposition leader accused the government of widespread electoral malpractice, including the arrest of opposition polling agents, interference with ballot materials, and the shutdown of internet services to suppress transparency during the vote-counting process.

Internet shutdown and demands for transparency

Bobi Wine demanded the immediate restoration of internet access and called for the publication of declaration forms and district tally sheets, saying this would allow Ugandans to independently verify the election results.

“We demand that the internet be restored and the rightful declaration forms and tally sheets from the districts be uploaded so that the people of Uganda can see the right results in transparency,” he said.

He further urged the Electoral Commission to halt the announcement of results until internet services are restored and the process can be openly monitored by the public.

Claims of protests, arrests, and killings

The NUP leader also claimed that protests have erupted in several parts of the country, accompanied by mass arrests and reported killings, accusing sections of the media of failing to adequately report events on the ground.

“There are widespread protests and widespread arrests, and people are being killed,” Bobi Wine said, calling on journalists to cover developments across the country.

He appealed to Ugandans to reject the announced results and engage in peaceful, non-violent demonstrations.

“We firmly call on Ugandans to reject these fake results being read by Byabakama and his Electoral Commission. We call on Ugandans to non-violently protest and reject any efforts to subvert their voice,” he said.

Election marred by technical failures

Uganda’s election was marred by significant technical challenges, including malfunctioning biometric voter verification machines and delayed delivery of ballot papers in several areas. There were also reports of violence against opposition supporters, with at least seven people reportedly killed.

As of publication, the Uganda Electoral Commission said President Yoweri Museveni was leading the presidential race with 76.25 per cent of the vote, while Bobi Wine followed with 19.85 per cent, with the remaining votes shared among six other candidates.

The developments have heightened political tensions in Uganda as citizens await the final election results amid growing concerns over security, transparency, and democratic governance.