Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine reported social media that a helicopter had landed in the grounds of his house in the capital, Kampala, and “forcibly taken him away to an unknown destination ” His son said both his parents have been seized by the military.
Earlier, Wine said he had been placed under house arrest, with security forces surrounding his home, after he alleged fraud had taken place in the elections on January 15.
At that stage, police spokesman Kituuma Rusoke told local broadcaster NBS that as a presidential contestant, Wine was “a person of interest”, adding that the heavy security deployment around his home was for his own security.
Some local journalists said security forces had blocked them from accessing the opposition leader’s home in Kampala’s Magere area.
Wine told his supporters to ignore the “fake results” that have been announced, saying the authorities have been “stealing the vote”. He did not provide any evidence to back up his claim and the authorities have not responded to his allegations. Museveni received 75% of the vote, with Wine on 25%.
At least seven opposition supporters were killed in disputed circumstances in Butambala, about 55km (35 miles) south-west of the capital after polls had closed. Internet shutdown imposed on the eve on the election.
MP Muwanga Kivumbi, from Wine’s National Unity Platform (NUP) party, told the AFP news agency that soldiers and police fired tear gas and then live bullets at hundreds of people who were following early results announcements at his home. “Ten were killed inside my house,” he said.
Human rights activist Agather Atuhaire confirmed this account to the Reuters news agency. However, local police spokesperson Lydia Tumushabe disputes this, maintaining police fired in self-defence after “a group of NUP goons” had attacked a police station and planned to overrun a tallying centre.
She told Reuters they were carrying machetes, axes and boxes of matches and said at least seven people had been killed.
Post election violations also marred Tanzanian elections held in October last year.