Kampala, Uganda — January 30, 2026 Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has come under intense local and international criticism after accusing the United States Embassy in Kampala of helping opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, evade arrest. The accusations followed a controversial overnight raid on Bobi Wine’s home that reportedly left his wife, Barbie Kyagulanyi, hospitalized.
The incident, which occurred between January 29 and 30, has raised serious concerns about human rights abuses, military conduct, and Uganda’s diplomatic relations with the United States.
Overnight Raid on Bobi Wine’s Home
According to Bobi Wine, security operatives raided his home in the middle of the night while heavily armed. He said the soldiers blocked all exits, damaged property, and aggressively searched the house as they hunted for him.
During the raid, Bobi Wine’s wife, Barbie Kyagulanyi, was allegedly dragged, forced to sit on the floor at gunpoint, and pressured to reveal her phone passwords and her husband’s whereabouts. Bobi Wine stated that she was assaulted and filmed during the operation, and that her clothing was torn in the process.
He further revealed that Barbie collapsed after her blood pressure rose sharply and was later rushed to hospital for medical attention. Following the raid, the military reportedly continued occupying the home, denying access even to family members attempting to deliver basic necessities such as food.
Muhoozi’s Online Accusations against the U.S.
In the aftermath of the raid, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba took to social media, accusing the U.S. Embassy of cooperating with Bobi Wine to help him escape capture. In a series of posts, the army chief went further to suggest that Uganda could end military cooperation with the United States.
I’ll leave it to the public to judge, but Kabobi and Barbie? Pure comedians and cowards duo. One flees, one ‘helps find’ him. Ugandans aren’t laughing anymore. pic.twitter.com/6i3xhk5daM
— Muhoozi Kainerugaba Quotes. (@Mkainerugaba_) January 29, 2026
One of the most controversial moments came when Muhoozi shared an image of Barbie Kyagulanyi sitting on the floor during the raid, surrounded by armed security personnel. The post sparked outrage across Uganda and beyond, with many questioning the appropriateness of a senior military officer sharing such images online.
Bobi Wine Speaks Out
Bobi Wine strongly condemned the raid and the online posts by the army chief. In a detailed statement, he described the treatment of his wife as cruel and criminal, accusing the soldiers of filming everything and reporting directly to their commander.
He praised his wife’s courage, saying she remained strong despite the trauma and violence she endured. Bobi Wine also thanked supporters who sent messages of solidarity as Barbie continues to recover.
Despite the situation, the opposition leader said he remains hopeful, expressing faith that Uganda will one day be free. He vowed that those responsible for crimes against Ugandans would eventually be held accountable.
Here is a picture of my wife shared by Museveni’s son and head of our nation’s military, Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
When soldiers on his orders raided our home, they made her to sit down, put her on gunpoint to reveal her phone passwords and my whereabouts, assaulted her, and… pic.twitter.com/lKSEbxTjjy
— BOBI WINE (@HEBobiwine) January 30, 2026
U.S. Senate Reacts Strongly
The situation quickly drew international attention. U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch described Gen. Muhoozi’s actions as crossing a “red line.” In a strong public statement, he urged the United States to reevaluate its security and military partnership with Uganda.
Commander @mkainerugaba has crossed a red line and now the U.S. must reevaluate its security partnership, which includes sanctions, and military cooperation with Uganda. The president’s son, and likely successor, cannot just delete tweets and issue hollow apologies. The U.S. will… https://t.co/ObIVkkYNPp
— Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman (@SenateForeign) January 30, 2026
Risch warned that the U.S. would not tolerate instability and recklessness, especially when American personnel, U.S. interests, and innocent lives in the region could be affected. He emphasized that deleting tweets and issuing apologies was not sufficient given the seriousness of the situation.
Muhoozi Deletes Posts, Admits Error
Hours after the backlash intensified, Gen. Muhoozi deleted the controversial posts. He later admitted that the information he shared was incorrect and confirmed that Uganda would continue cooperating with the United States.
The reversal did little to calm public debate. Ugandans remain divided, with some criticizing the army chief’s conduct as reckless and dangerous, while others praised him for admitting his mistake and stepping back.
I want to apologise to our great friends the United States for my earlier tweets that I have now deleted. I was being fed with wrong information. I have spoken with the US Ambassador to our country and everything is okay. We are going to continue our military cooperation as…
— Muhoozi Kainerugaba (@mkainerugaba) January 30, 2026
A Nation Left with Questions
Bobi Wine still in hidings. The raid, the social media accusations, and the diplomatic fallout have left many unanswered questions. Human rights groups, political observers, and ordinary citizens are demanding accountability, transparency, and respect for the rule of law.
As tensions remain high, the incident has once again highlighted concerns about the role of the military in politics, the safety of opposition leaders, and the future of Uganda’s relations with key international partners.
