Martha Karua's Warning To Museveni Govt Over Harrasment Of Ugandan Opposition Leader Bobi Wine and His Family as Tensions Mount in Kampala

Kenyan political figure Martha Karua has condemned what she termed as growing violations of political rights and personal freedoms in Uganda, following reports that opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi — widely known as Bobi Wine — and his family were subjected to intimidation and heavy-handed state actions at their home in Kampala.

Karua issued her criticism through a statement on X on January 24, calling the treatment of the Ugandan opposition politician unacceptable and urging regional and international bodies to take interest.

“Harassment of @HEBobiwine & his family unacceptable,” read her short but pointed message.

Karua tagged the East African Community, several African heads of state, and international human rights institutions including the African Union, the United Nations, and the UN Human Rights Office, signaling a call for coordinated pressure rather than passive concern.

Bobi Wine Reports Raid on His Residence

Karua’s statement followed a dramatic report by Bobi Wine a day earlier, in which he alleged that masked and armed security personnel forcibly entered his home in Magere, assaulted family members, and isolated his wife, Barbie Kyagulanyi.

“A group of masked, armed soldiers has just broken into our house and beat up my family members… They have currently isolated my wife alone. Their intentions are unclear,” Bobi Wine posted, raising alarm over both the safety of his family and the broader political environment in the country.

Local reports indicate that the residence remained heavily surrounded by security forces afterward, with restrictions placed on movement in and out of the compound and even the delivery of essential supplies such as food.

Uganda Law Society Demands Accountability

The incident provoked a strong reaction from the Uganda Law Society (ULS), which days earlier had condemned the unofficial confinement of Bobi Wine and his family as a violation of the law.

In a statement dated January 20, ULS criticized security actors for “the unprovoked invasion and barricading of the Magere home,” describing the actions as unlawful restrictions that amounted to house arrest. 

The society argued that such conduct breached provisions of Uganda’s constitution guaranteeing liberty, movement, and human dignity.

The legal body further noted that the continued restrictions contradicted earlier High Court rulings prohibiting the state from detaining political opponents in private residences without lawful cause.

Concerns Over Escalating Rhetoric

Beyond physical actions, ULS expressed concern over what it termed a dangerous tone among some state actors. 

In particular, the society pointed to remarks by Chief of Defence Forces General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who reportedly claimed security operations had resulted in the deaths of at least 22 supporters of Bobi Wine’s National Unity Platform (NUP) and suggested the opposition leader himself could be targeted.

According to the ULS, such statements foster “a climate of intimidation, restricted civic space, and gross human rights abuses,” particularly in a pre-election period.

Regional Attention Rises

Bobi Wine has remained one of the most prominent challengers to Uganda’s political establishment, and the latest developments have heightened concerns about the shrinking political space in the country.