In a harrowing account delivered from her hospital bed, Barbara “Barbie” Kyagulanyi, wife of Ugandan opposition leader Robert “Bobi Wine” Kyagulanyi, has spoken out about a violent nighttime raid on their Magere residence.
The incident, which occurred on the evening of January 23, 2026, has intensified tensions following the disputed presidential election earlier this month.
Barbie, detailed the ordeal in a video narration, shedding light on the aggressive tactics deployed by the intruders. The raid reportedly began around 10:30 PM, shortly after she had finished dinner and retired to her bedroom. Alone in the house after dismissing her staff, she received a warning from her security guard about an unusually large group of men in different uniforms approaching the property.
Sensing danger, she quickly recorded a video message to her son Solomon, saying, “Solomon, these people are here, but this time it’s a bigger number. It’s a different group,” and urged him to share it publicly. She also called her other son, Dax, with a chilling farewell: “Dax, this is the end… These people are here.”
As the armed men she described as tall, muscular, and uniformly built, scaled the walls with ladders and broke into the home, Barbie refused to open the door, instead alerting neighbors to spread the word. The intruders, wielding hammers and new firearms, swarmed through every window, with groups of about seven men at each entry point.
Once inside, they demanded her phone and its password. When she resisted, the situation escalated violently. She recounted being pulled up by her clothes, choked, and lifted off the ground. In self-defense, she kicked one assailant, leading to her pajama top being torn and buttons scattering.
Some men averted their eyes, while others continued the harassment. A particularly brutal moment came when a gunman grabbed her by the hair and slammed her head against a pillar. Four men then forced her to the ground and sat on her, causing her to lose consciousness.
She was rushed to the hospital around 1am EAT, where she was treated for bruises and severe anxiety.
Bobi Wine, who has been in hiding since rejecting the election results amid allegations of irregularities, reported the raid on social media, claiming masked soldiers beat family members, ransacked the home, and isolated his wife with unclear intentions.
“They have currently isolated my wife, Barbie Kyagulanyi, alone. Their intentions are unclear!” he posted on X.
This is the second such operation on their home since the election. Despite demands to unlock her phone and reveal her husband’s whereabouts, she refused.
Her account has drawn widespread condemnation, especially from opposition leaders and huma rights defenders.
Barbie an author and philanthropist, has long been a vocal supporter of her husband’s political ambitions and a champion for social justice causes.
