Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba has confirmed that soldiers under his command raided the home of opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, but has denied allegations that his wife, Barbie Itungo, was assaulted during the operation.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Muhoozi dismissed reports claiming that the army beat Barbie during the raid, insisting that the operation was aimed solely at Bobi Wine.
“My soldiers did not beat up Barbie… Kabobi’s wife. First of all, we do not beat up women. They are not worth our time. We are looking for her cowardly husband, not her,” Muhoozi wrote.
His remarks come amid widespread public outrage following reports of a violent military raid at Bobi Wine’s residence in Magere. According to Barbie Itungo and eyewitness accounts, the operation involved the assault of family members, attacks on Bobi Wine’s security personnel, and the destruction of property, including the confiscation of personal documents.
While addressing the media on Saturday from Nsambya Hospital, where she is receiving treatment, Barbie Itungo recounted a harrowing ordeal, saying she was physically assaulted by security operatives.
“They lifted me off my feet. The buttons of my shirt broke. That same man held me by my hair, lifted me up, and hit my head on the floor,” she said, adding that her body is covered in bruises.
The incident has drawn sharp criticism from legal bodies, human rights organisations, and opposition leaders, who have condemned what they describe as the growing militarisation of civilian spaces and the use of security forces in political matters.
Muhoozi’s public acknowledgement of the raid, coupled with his denial of abuse, has further fuelled debate on social media, with many Ugandans demanding accountability, transparency, and respect for human rights in security operations targeting opposition figures
