Kyagulanyi Robert Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, he was a
presidential candidate representing the National Unity Platform (
NUP) party in the general election took place in Uganda on January 15, 2025.
On March 14, 2026, he
announced that he had left the country, pointing to safety concerns among other reasons.
"Two months ago, Museveni yet again usurped the will of the people of Uganda and declared himself president on gunpoint. A day later, gripped by shame and fear, the military invaded my home to harm me, but I was able to evade them and go into hiding.
Today, I am announcing my brief exit from the country to handle important work. Over the next few weeks, I will engage with our friends and allies all over the world before returning to Uganda to continue the push for freedom and democracy! For now, let's remain focused and united."
Claim
A video circulating online allegedly shows Robert Kyagulanyi expressing disappointment, saying he feels used and abandoned by the West, and criticizing both international support and his party’s lack of direction after the elections.
"I am very disappointed and I feel used. For years we were told that institutions like the UN stood for fairness. 'Abandoned' is too soft of a word. The West left me alone in this struggle. My party, the NUP, after elections has no real accountability or any feasible plan. The West is only encouraging me to go back home where I escaped and hold talks with the president and his son to legitimize our party, NUP. So it seems we are just hitting a rock..."
Verdict
Digital verification has confirmed that the video was manipulated. Using Google Reverse Image Search, JamiiCheck identified the original footage as an
interview between Robert Kyagulanyi and France 24, in which he did not make the statements heard in the circulating clip.
In the actual interview, he stated his intention to return to Uganda while warning that he remained under threat and called for international sanctions against President Yoweri Museveni and his son.
Further analysis by JamiiCheck using an AI detection tool found strong indications that the audio in the viral video was artificially generated.
