Senior religious leaders yesterday visited the home of Opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, amid reports that he has gone into hiding and his home remains under military siege.
The clerics, under their umbrella, Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU), encountered a heavy security presence at Bobi Wine’s home at Magere in Wakiso District on the outskirts of Kampala City.
The team was briefly questioned by the security personnel before being granted access. Shortly after their entry, some of the security personnel were seen withdrawing from the precincts of Bobi Wine’s home.
Church of Uganda Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba, who led the clergy, said the visit was part of the Council’s mandate to engage political actors, especially during periods of heightened political tension following the just concluded presidential elections held last Thursday.
Bobi Wine, a National Unity Platform (NUP) party presidential candidate and runner-up in the polls, has rejected the results and asked Ugandans to demand what he called their stolen victory.
‘This is part of our obligation as religious leaders to reach out to all stakeholders during these sensitive times. We are here to pray for the people of this home and for stability in the country,’ the Archbishop said.
Mr Kyagulanyi’s wife, Ms Barbie Itungo, told the clerics that the family has faced what she described as prolonged restrictions on their movement.
‘Since these people (security) came, we have been denied the freedom to move out of this home. Even my mother, friends and members of the media who attempted to visit were turned away,’ Ms Itungo said. She said their communication was being monitored and that security surveillance had intensified.
‘My phone can only receive calls when they want. There are drones moving around at night, and it has become impossible to sleep,’ she said.
Ms Itungo said her husband fled home on Saturday over fears for his life.
‘He escaped to save his life. I chose to stay behind because of the people I have here. The Chief of Defence Forces keeps sending terrifying and threatening messages, and our lives are in danger,’ she said. Archbishop Kaziimba said the IRCU sought to independently verify the circumstances surrounding Mr Kyagulanyi and his family before taking any public position. ‘Given the videos circulating, we felt it necessary to verify the facts before drawing conclusions,’ he added.
Pastor Joseph Sserwadda, a member of IRCU, said the allegations, if confirmed, would be grave but urged caution until their verification is complete.
‘If a public figure reaches a point where food has to be delivered to him at home, that suggests a serious situation,’ Pr Sserwadda said.
‘However, we do not yet have concrete evidence, and we must avoid premature judgment.’
The religious leaders also expressed concern over reports of arrests following the January 15 presidential and parliamentary elections, calling for adherence to due process of the law. Archbishop Kaziimba said IRCU intends to engage the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to seek clarity on the arrests and ongoing investigations.
Following President Museveni’s remarks during his victory thanksgiving at his country home in Rwakitura, where he said the government would engage religious leaders to help rein in on youths allegedly involved in terrorist and partisan activities, the IRCU has distanced itself from any such investigative role. ‘Our mandate is spiritual, not criminal,’ Pr Sserwadda said.
‘Matters of terrorism and partisanship fall under security and investigative agencies. We can only play our pastoral role.’