Barbie Kyagulanyi Itungo has shared an emotional reflection on how her life has changed since the events that followed the January 2026 elections, saying she no longer recognises the person she once was.
The developments stem from the post-election period, when tensions remained high after National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu challenged incumbent President Yoweri Museveni in a closely watched contest.
Shortly after the vote, Kyagulanyi alleged that security forces were pursuing him, a claim that government officials later dismissed.
In the days that followed, Barbie was admitted to Nsambya Hospital after what she described as a violent security operation at their home in Magere. She alleged that armed personnel raided the residence and assaulted her while demanding information about her husband’s whereabouts.
The allegations were strongly rejected by senior government officials at the time. Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba denied that soldiers assaulted her, while State Minister Henry Oryem Okello dismissed related video footage as misleading.
In February, Robert Kyagulanyi confirmed that Barbie and their children had left the country, citing safety concerns following the incident.
Kyagulanyi himself later travelled to the United States, where he said he was undertaking an international outreach and lobbying mission aimed at raising concerns about human rights and the electoral process in Uganda. Government officials have repeatedly maintained that he is free to return to the country and is not being pursued.
In a post shared on Tuesday on her verified social media platforms, Barbie described the emotional toll of the past months, saying it marked a complete personal reset.
“I still vividly remember the moment everything I had built over the years collapsed. The day every part of my life fell apart simultaneously. My life got formatted and everything that I had carefully crafted just crumbled before my own eyes,” she wrote.
She added: “A fundamental reconstruction, a total overhaul of everything I knew happened in the blink of an eye. In that moment, everything I had built my identity on melted through my fingers. My soul died!”
Barbie said the months that followed have been defined by deep emotional turbulence and change, but also support and healing.
“For three months, I have been facing the chaos of transformation. This has not happened in isolation. I have experienced unconditional love, and unreserved support. Sometimes I look at myself in the mirror and can’t seem to know who I am anymore!” she said.
She further reflected on the personal impact of the experience, noting that it has permanently changed her outlook.
“The bitter/sweet part of all this is that I will never be the same again. I have experienced pure sisterhood and I got to experience firsthand the true meaning of unreserved support. In the chaos of fundamental change, I have learnt to love more and in many aspects, I am different,” she added.
