False and Fabricated: Robert Kyagulanyi Did Not Call President Ibrahim Traoré About Alleged Raid

A TikTok video circulating online by Abraham.the.legend featuring an individual identified as Ibrahim Traoré, Burkina Faso’s president the claiming that opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, personally called him to inform him about a raid on his home and alleged harassment of his wife Barbara Itungo Kyagulanyi.

However, there is no public evidence supporting the claim that such a phone call took place. The claim is therefore unverified and appears fabricated.

The Facts

It is true that Kyagulanyi’s residence in Magere, Wakiso district has previously been raided by security forces after elections  and his wife assaulted.

After the elections, Kyagulanyi publicly stated that police and military personnel surrounded his home. In one widely reported incident, he said he escaped a security operation while his wife and family members remained inside as reported here, here and  here. 

“Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine says he escaped a police and army raid on his house as veteran incumbent Yoweri Museveni secured an overwhelming victory in the presidential election.” reads the first paragraph of Al Jazeera.

“I want to confirm that I managed to escape from them,” Bobi Wine, a former pop star whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, wrote in a post on X on Saturday.” the article continues to read. Adding: “Currently, I am not at home, although my wife and other family members remain under house arrest. I know that these criminals are looking for me everywhere, and I am trying my best to keep safe.”

There have also been media reports alleging that Barbara Kyagulanyi was assaulted during a late-night raid  here, here, here and later being hospitalised here and here. 

“Barbara Itungo Kyagulanyi, the wife of National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, has accused security operatives of assaulting her during a late-night raid at their home in Magere, Wakiso District. She is currently receiving medical treatment following the incident.” reads the first paragraph of Chimpreports

Despite the reports, the security officials have disputed the allegations. “On Monday, the general posted on X that “my soldiers did not beat up Barbie [Bobi Wine’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,” he said.”reads part of the BBC article

The Analysis 

In the TikTok video, president Traoré asserts that Bobi Wine directly contacted him to inform him about a raid on his residence and the harassment of his wife, events that truly happened given the broad coverage both at national and international level. However, there is no evidence such as the phone call audio recording, official statements, or corroborating reporting to support their conversation.

We looked through  Kyagulanyi’s social media platforms namely X, FaceBook and Instagram for any updates on the placed call to president Traoré but there was none. Additionally, there is no credible media outlet that reported about the communication between the two leaders. 

We also used the info Verifier tool where we asked the chatbot “Did Bobi Wine call Burkina Faso president about the raid on his home?” where it responded that there is no verified evidence that Kyagulanyi called Burkina Faso’s president about a raid on his home.

The Video aspects 

Additionally, the video appears fabricated, raising further questions about its authenticity. In the video president Traoré is robotic as he talks. He says that Bobi Wine went to Gomba to greet his living mother and the next minute he says Bobi Wine said to say hello to his mother in heaven which is confusing is she living or in heaven?

President Traoré says that Bobi Wine said ever since the raids happened at his home the post has not addressed the issue however, a record of the Uganda Police Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Rusoke Kituuma addressed the matter during a security briefing at police headquarters in Naguru saying at timestamp 3:04: “We are still having presence around his home like i shared earlier and like i have also shared before, that we are doing it for security reasons. In the interests of the security of the country…”

He also says that Barbie (Kyagulanyi’s wife) was beaten in front of his children but while listening to  a report where Barbie narrates her ordeal at timestamp 7:08 while in hospital we learnt that the children were not present.

Still in the video, president Traoré says that Kyagulanyi actually won the election, however results from the tallying national center showed that president Museveni won the election and was declared winner by the Chairperson Electoral Commission Simon Byabakama.

He also noted that the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) went to see Barbie to see what happened, when they left they said nothing, but the Commission’s Chairperson noted that she declined to meet her team that came at her home and pleaded with Barbie to cooperate with them.

“Maverick Uganda Human Rights Commission chairperson Mariam Wangadya has pleaded with Barbara Itungo Kyagulanyi wife to National Unity Platform (NUP) principal Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine) to allow her to investigate the allegations that the army violated her rights during the raid on their home last week.” reads the first paragraph of Ono Bwino

“President Traoré”added that president Museveni shut down the internet and declared himself winner at gunpoint however, he does not have such power to declare himself winner but the Electoral Commission. Justice Simon Byabakama declared him the winner having obtained the highest number of votes. 

“The commission hereby declares the elected president, candidate Yoweri Tibuhaburwa Kaguta Museveni.” declared Byabakama on January 17, 2026

Verdict 

Fabricated. While security raids on Bobi Wine’s residence and assault on his wife happened in the past, the video’s contents were all made up by the TikToker. The TikTok video does not provide verifiable proof of the alleged phone call, and the claim should therefore be treated as ill founded and be dismissed.

This fact-check was produced by NAMAJJA ELIZABETH with support from the Debunk Media Initiative and BBC Media Action.