The NUP alleged late Friday that an army helicopter landed at Wine’s residence in Kampala and that soldiers “forcibly took him away to an unknown destination.” The party said the incident amounted to an arrest, though the claim could not be independently verified.

However, national police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke dismissed the allegations, saying Wine was neither detained nor restricted.

“He is not under arrest. He is at his home and free to move,” Rusoke told a televised news conference on Saturday.

Attempts to reach Bobi Wine and senior NUP officials for comment were unsuccessful.

The dispute comes amid heightened political tension following Thursday’s general election, which Wine has described as deeply flawed. He has accused authorities of orchestrating mass electoral fraud during a vote conducted under a nationwide internet blackout and has urged his supporters to protest the outcome.

On Thursday, the NUP said Wine had been placed under what it described as “effective house arrest,” further fuelling concerns over the opposition leader’s safety and freedom of movement.

According to provisional results released by the Electoral Commission on Saturday morning, President Museveni, 81, was leading with nearly 72 percent of the vote, while Wine trailed at about 24 percent, with more than 90 percent of polling stations counted. Museveni has ruled Uganda since 1986.

The election has been widely viewed as a critical test of Museveni’s political dominance and his ability to maintain stability amid regional unrest that has affected neighbouring Tanzania and Kenya.

Although voting on Thursday passed largely peacefully, the campaign period was marred by violent clashes at opposition rallies and what the United Nations described as widespread repression and intimidation.

Fresh concerns emerged early Friday when violence broke out in Butambala town, about 55 kilometres southwest of Kampala. Police and a local member of parliament offered differing accounts of the incident, underscoring lingering uncertainty over post-election security.

As final results near, tensions remain high, with opposition supporters questioning the credibility of the process and authorities insisting that law and order will be maintained.