- The US Embassy in Uganda said in a statement it was tracking reports of the alleged arrest and detention of Wine at his home.
- Ugandan police dismissed as rumours claims that they had arrested the popular politician and said in a statement they simply took him home.
Image: NUP/X
The US has condemned the alleged arrest and detention of Uganda's opposition politician Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine by police.
The National Unity Party (NUP) leader was grabbed and whisked away by people believed to be police officers upon arrival at Entebbe Airport Thursday morning.
The US Embassy in Uganda said in a statement it was tracking reports of the alleged arrest and detention of Wine at his home.
"Reports indicate that opposition supporters were also detained. Respect for freedom of assembly and allowing political parties to operate freely are fundamental values of democratic societies," the Embassy said.
Wine was reportedly jetting back home from mobilisation tours in Canada and South Africa.
The Monitor quoted NUP secretary general David Rubongoya as saying the party does not know Wine's whereabouts.
Ugandan police dismissed rumours claims that they had arrested the popular politician and said in a statement they simply took him home.
"We wish to inform the public that the NUP President, Kyagulanyi Robert was successfully escorted by our security team from Entebbe to his home in Magere. He reached his home around 11.20am and is with his family and friends," UPF said on X.
The Police accompanied the statement with a photo of Wine and his wife in their compound.
"Disregard rumours of his arrest by propagandists."
In a video shared online, Wine who was in the company of other leaders was grabbed by police in Civilian clothes immediately after he stepped out of the plane.
An unidentified legislator from his party attempted to follow the officers in a bid to stop the arrest but he was stopped by the officers.
Wine was then pushed inside a waiting police vehicle at the airport and driven away.
A month ago, Wine embarked on a nationwide mobilisation tour across Uganda that saw him hold parked rallies across 10 districts in apparent preparation for the country's next presidential elections in early 2026.
The first phase of the mobilisation tours started on August 28 until September 13 during which time he also opened NUP regional offices.
Wine is likely to face President Yoweri Museveni again in the coming elections expected between January 12 and February 9, 2026.
At the time Museveni will have been at the helm for exactly 40 years.
The Ugandan leader has ruled the country with an iron fist since 1986 and attempts by the Opposition led by his former challenger Kizza Bisikye were met with force and countless detentions without trial.
Museveni has shown no indication of hanging his boots although his son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who at some point announced his candidacy for the 2026 polls, has been thought of by some observers as a possible replacement for his father.