Kassanda North Member of Parliament, Patrick Nsamba , has raised concerns over the state of political freedoms in Uganda, cautioning that restrictions on opposition activities could undermine national stability.
Speaking during Sanyuka Morning Xpress on Thursday, Nsamba, a staunch member of the National Unity Platform (NUP), emphasized that democratic space is essential for a stable and functional political system.
“A country becomes unstable when opposition leaders are not given space to operate freely,” he said.
Reflecting on the recent electoral environment, he noted that the performance and visibility of the opposition during the elections mirrored the broader constraints under which they are operating.
“The state of the opposition was evident during the election, and that reflects the best we can currently do. No country enters conflict from a place of stability or satisfaction,” he said.
“My hope is in Uganda’s young people. I believe they have what it takes to do better and shape a stronger future.”
Nsamba’s remarks follow a Saturday announcement by former National Unity Platform presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, that he is temporarily leaving Uganda after more than eight weeks of operating from undisclosed locations. Kyagulanyi said he would use the trip to increase international engagement regarding the election outcome. Whilst in hiding, Bobi Wine addressed the Geneva Summit and the European Union online, raising similar concerns, and he has stated that whilst abroad, he plans to take these engagements to an in-person, physical level.
“I am announcing my brief exit from the country to handle important work. Over the next few weeks, I will engage with our friends in the diaspora before returning to Uganda to continue the push for freedom and democracy,” he said in a viral video issued on his social media platforms.
During his absence, Kyagulanyi appointed NUP Vice President for Western Uganda, Dr. Lina Zedriga Waru, who recently returned from prison, to serve as the party’s acting president
Bobi Wine who had been in hiding since the day after the polls, claimed he had to evade “snatch squads” during what he described as a heavy military siege around his residence.
“The regime has looked for me everywhere. They have raided the homes of many colleagues, well, they couldn’t find me because the people of Uganda sheltered me and protected me,” he said.
Since the January 15 election, Bobi Wine has openly rejected the results, labelling them “fake” and accusing the Electoral Commission of manipulating the process.
He has also alleged that the commission announced results without providing the mandatory Declaration of Results forms, although no substantial evidence has been offered to support these claims.
On January 16, 2026, Bobi Wine reportedly left his Magere residence and went into hiding after his home was allegedly raided by military personnel.
Since then, he has continued communicating with supporters through social media, maintaining that state security agencies are targeting him—an allegation the government has consistently denied.
Despite the controversy surrounding the election, Bobi Wine has stated that he will not challenge the results in court, citing a lack of faith in the judiciary. Instead, he has called on his supporters to engage in peaceful protests, describing them as a show of solidarity against what he terms a stolen election.
Government officials have repeatedly dismissed claims of political persecution. The Minister for Information and Communications Technology and National Guidance, Chris Baryomunsi, said the state has no intention of arresting or harming the opposition leader.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja also urged Kyagulanyi to stop what she described as “comedy” and return home to his family. Responding to statements attributed to the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations , General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, which appeared to suggest a pursuit of Kyagulanyi, Baryomunsi clarified that the government’s position remains unchanged.
According to Baryomusi, security deployments around Kyagulanyi’s Magere residence are intended to prevent the home from becoming a “hub for public disorder”, not to threaten or detain him, with Police Spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke recently stating their Magere presence if for security reasons and they will not vacate Kyagulanyi’s residence until he returns from hiding.
“The ongoing presence of security forces at Bobi Wine’s residence is for his own safety, not to restrain or torture him. The government of Uganda is fully aware that if anyone were to attempt to harm Kyagulanyi, it would cause total chaos and mayhem in the country,” said Henry Oryem Okello, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
