Uganda Opposition Alleges Mass Arrest of 300+ NUP Members Amid Escalating Campaign Tensions
Uganda’s principal opposition group, the National Unity Platform (NUP), alleges that security agencies have detained more than 300 supporters and party operatives since nationwide campaigning commenced ahead of January’s presidential vote. The wave of arrests—reported to have intensified this week in Kampala—comes as NUP leader and presidential contender Bobi Wine begins his second attempt to challenge President Yoweri Museveni’s decades-long dominance.
Wine, formally known as Robert Kyagulanyi, placed second in the 2021 poll but rejected the official tally, accusing authorities of pervasive fraud and coercion. President Museveni, who has held power since 1986 and is now 81, is pursuing another term following earlier constitutional changes that scrapped age and term limits, allowing him to prolong his nearly 40-year tenure.
NUP spokesperson Joel Ssenyonyi told Reuters that security forces ramped up operations immediately after Wine launched his campaign on Monday in the capital.
“Over 300 people have been arrested since the campaigns began. The regime is anxious, and they are using arrests to frighten our base,” Ssenyonyi said. Those detained, he noted, include volunteers, campaign mobilisers, aides and local party leaders, though most are ordinary supporters.
Ugandan police did not issue a response to requests for comment. Security agencies have historically defended their conduct during election periods, saying crowd control measures are necessary to prevent violence between competing political camps.
Local broadcaster NTV aired footage on Monday showing police firing tear gas and deploying water cannons to break up crowds at Wine’s rally in Kampala’s Kawempe area. Additional clips posted on Wine’s X (formerly Twitter) account appeared to show officers using pepper spray on supporters, while a plain-clothes individual beat people with a cane as authorities pushed back the gathering.
According to Ssenyonyi, at least 100 people were arrested during Monday’s confrontation, with several dozen more detained during Wine’s Tuesday rally on the outskirts of Kampala. Police, however, reported only seven arrests, claiming those individuals hurled stones and injured seven officers.
“Security personnel used standard public-order measures to disperse unruly groups,” the statement read.
Wine maintains that Museveni’s previous win was secured through threats, bribery, ballot manipulation and other irregularities—accusations the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) rejects. Independent observers have repeatedly raised concerns about limits placed on opposition campaigns, restricted media access, and the pervasive involvement of security forces during Uganda’s electoral cycles.
Should Museveni secure another victory, his rule over the East African nation would stretch toward half a century, placing him among the longest-serving leaders globally.
Source: Araba Sey