Politics 28 March 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Uganda Unchanged if Security Had Ignored Bobi Wine, Opinion Piece Argues
A commentary claims Uganda's security forces' heavy-handed response to Bobi Wine after the elections backfired spectacularly, allowing his undetected escape and damaging the nation's image. Leaving him alone would have kept the country running normally without exile or international backlash. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/oped/commentary/uganda-would-still-be-the-same-if-bobi-were-left-alone-5406172
An opinion piece argues that Uganda would be in the same state today if security forces had simply left National Unity Platform leader Robert Kyagulanyi, known as Bobi Wine, undisturbed after the January elections.
During the vote count, with internet shut down and troops patrolling Kampala, Kyagulanyi stayed home with his family. Without surrounding his residence or clashing with supporters, he lacked the means to spark unrest, allowing daily life—banks, markets, transport—to continue uninterrupted.
Instead, aggressive tactics led to failure: Kyagulanyi slipped out of the country undetected, releasing videos from abroad while forces searched futilely. His wife Barbie faced alleged torture, and figures like deputy Lina Zedriga endured abduction and detention, sharing stories that harm Uganda’s global reputation.
The writer questions the logic of blindfolding and restraining opponents accused of inciting violence, noting it amplifies negative narratives online rather than neutralizing threats. Such actions sustain security operations but fail to improve the nation.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)