Uganda’s military chief has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to opposition leader Bobi Wine to surrender himself to the police, following last week’s controversial presidential election.
Wine, who came second in the polls, has alleged widespread electoral fraud after President Yoweri Museveni was declared winner and sworn in for a seventh term in office.
The opposition figure said he went into hiding after fleeing what he described as a military raid on his residence, which allegedly occurred hours before the 81-year-old incumbent was officially announced as victor on Saturday.
In a series of posts on social media late on Monday, Uganda’s military chief, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, threatened Wine with violence, warning that he would be treated as an “outlaw” if he failed to hand himself over to the authorities within the stipulated time.
Kainerugaba, who is President Museveni’s son and widely viewed as his preferred successor, has a history of making provocative and inflammatory statements online.
Meanwhile, at least 118 members of Wine’s National Unity Platform (NUP) were arraigned in court on Monday over alleged election-related offences, including unlawful assembly and conspiracy.
The party’s secretary-general has denied the accusations, insisting that NUP members were not involved in any violent activity during or after the polls.
Wine has ruled out challenging the election outcome in court, citing a lack of confidence in the judiciary. He said the opposition would instead explore “all non-violent, legal options” in response to the disputed results.
