Uganda’s opposition leader Bobi Wine said Wednesday he is in hiding after the disputed election, describing a country tightening like a clenched fist.
President Yoweri Museveni, 81, was declared winner with 71.65 percent, extending his nearly four-decade rule after a vote critics denounced as stolen.
Wine, a former musician turned politician, rejected the outcome and accused the military of seizing the process and silencing dissent.
He told AFP he has been constantly moving since a security raid on his home, sheltered by ordinary residents in Kampala’s poorer districts.
Museveni’s son, army chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba, publicly branded opposition figures “terrorists” and posted an online threat to hunt down Wine.
Wine said he is not a criminal, but a presidential candidate, and called it a crime to kill, intimidate, and militarise elections.
International observers and rights groups criticised the polls, citing an internet blackout and widespread repression before and after voting day.
Another veteran opponent, Kizza Besigye, remains in jail after an alleged abduction last year and repeated denials of bail.
His wife, UNAIDS chief Winnie Byanyima, said he is gravely ill, weak, and seated in filth, warning his life is in danger.
Besigye missed a scheduled court appearance Wednesday, as his lawyer said the prisoner was too unwell to leave detention.
Opposition figures say more than 600 people have been arrested since the election, accused of protesting Museveni’s renewed mandate.
Wine said Uganda’s struggle for democracy continues, urging the world not to look away as fear and resistance collide.