By Aggrey Baba
Former presidential candidate and Common Man’s Party (CMP) leader, Mubarak Munyagwa has dismissed concerns surrounding the whereabouts of National Unity Platform (NUP) president and fellow former presidential contender, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine), saying there is nothing special about his absence from the public eye.
The CMP leader made the remarks on Tuesday, February 10, during an appearance on Sanyuka TV’s One on One programme, where he was responding to a question from moderator Simon Kagwa Njala about what he described as the opposition’s relaxed posture despite the NUP leader being in hiding since polling day.
In response, Lusaniya man said he was not bothered Kyagulanyi’s situation, arguing that it is not only the NUP leader whose whereabouts have not been publicly known since the January 15, 2026 elections.
“He is not the only presidential candidate who disappeared. There are other candidates we have not seen or heard from for weeks,” Munyagwa said, citing Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) leader Maj Gen (rtd) Mugisha Muntu and independent candidate Mr Joseph Mabirizi, saying their silence had not attracted the same level of attention or concern.
According to Munyagwa, it is possible that Kyagulanyi and other candidates are simply taking a break after a long and demanding election period, further adding that he sees no reason why Kyagulanyi’s self-imposed absence should be turned into a national issue.
Munyagwa also referred to recent statements by the Uganda Police Force, which have indicated that they are not looking for MKyagulanyi. He argued that this alone should put to rest claims that the opposition leader is under threat or being pursued by the state.
“If police have come out clearly and said they are not looking for him, then why should people panic?” he asked.
He further dismissed fears about Kyagulanyi’s safety, pointing to a recent video posted on social media by musician Mansur Ssemanda (King Saha), who claimed he had been in the same car with Kyagulanyi.
Munyagwa said the post suggested that Kyagulanyi was safe and in good spirits, King Saha was very happy as he drove.
“That tells you there is no crisis,” Munyagwa said.
On the continued presence of security personnel at Kyagulanyi’s home in Magere, Munyagwa offered a different explanation from that advanced by human rights activists and opposition figures.
He suggested that the police and army deployment could be a preventive security measure rather than an act of intimidation or illegal occupation.
“If Kyagulanyi is not at home, his enemies can easily sneak in and do something bad, then the government would be blamed.”
In his view, the presence of the army in Magere could be intended to protect the property and prevent any incident that might later be blamed on the state.
Munyagwa’s comments come amid ongoing debate over the post-election treatment of opposition leaders and the role of security agencies, particularly following claims by Kyagulanyi that his home was raided and later occupied by military operatives.
While government and police have maintained that they are acting within the law, opposition figures and rights advocates continue to question the justification and legality of the measures taken at Magere. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
