Kampala, Uganda — In a powerful and emotionally charged statement, opposition leader and National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has spoken out about the mysterious disappearance of Twine Charles, a Ugandan police officer reportedly picked up last Wednesday from the Police Headquarters by operatives from the Special Forces Command (SFC).
Despite Twine’s past role in what Bobi Wine describes as defending repression and showing “great insensitivity about the oppression and suffering of the people of Uganda,” the musician-turned-politician is calling for his humane and lawful treatment.
“I implore us to demand for the fair treatment of Twine Charles,” Wine said in a public statement. “Twine, like every Ugandan, deserves to be treated in accordance with the law, even if he is suspected to have committed any offence. His family deserves to know where he is and to have reasonable access to him.”
The case of Twine has stirred debate in both the security apparatus and human rights circles. Several local media outlets have reported that the officer was last seen being taken by SFC operatives to an unknown location.
His whereabouts remain undisclosed to his family and the public, prompting growing concerns about forced disappearances and the continued erosion of rule of law in the country.
Bobi Wine’s statement is particularly poignant given his history with the security forces—often on the receiving end of their violence and suppression. His appeal for justice, even for a figure who may have once stood in opposition to his movement, underscores a deeper message: that the arbitrary and opaque use of power by military forces threatens everyone, regardless of affiliation.
“We cannot continue to live in such a lawless country!” he declared, pointing to a worrying trend of enforced disappearances, illegal detentions, and military overreach in civilian matters.
In a chilling reminder, Wine emphasized the indiscriminate nature of authoritarianism. “Like we have repeatedly said, NO ONE IS SAFE IN A SINKING BOAT. Assuredly, EVERYONE will taste the effects of military rule, one way or another, until all of us work collectively to put an end to this criminality.”
His words echo a growing frustration among Ugandans over the entrenchment of military influence in governance and civilian life. Analysts suggest that Wine’s call may mark a pivotal moment—an opportunity to galvanize broader support for legal reforms and accountability, not just for opposition activists, but for all citizens, including those once protected by the very system now turning on them.
As the search for Officer Twine continues, the incident may well serve as a grim symbol of the unchecked power held by Uganda’s security forces—and the pressing need for transparency, justice, and collective action.
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