By Lucy Adautin
On Monday, soldiers and police sealed off the headquarters of Uganda’s largest opposition party. The move was described by a police spokesperson as a precautionary measure ahead of planned anti-government protests on Tuesday.
Robert Kyagulanyi, better known as Bobi Wine, head of the National Unity Platform (NUP), posted on the social media platform X that security forces had surrounded NUP headquarters in Kampala, preventing entry or exit. He shared photos showing military personnel and army trucks at the site.
“Ahead of our scheduled press conference this morning, the military and police have raided and surrounded the National Unity Platform offices,” Wine stated.
“The cowardly regime is so afraid of the people because they know how much they have wronged them!”
The 42-year-old pop star turned politician has become the main challenger to President Yoweri Museveni, who has been in power since 1986.
Young Ugandans, who have led recent unrest, plan to march to parliament on Tuesday to protest against alleged corruption and human rights abuses under Museveni’s long rule.
Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke said the security forces acted due to NUP’s “mobilisation for the protest. We have been monitoring this. Their activities raised a red flag and we took precaution measures,” he explained.
Opposition leaders and rights activists claim corruption is rampant in Uganda, accusing Museveni of protecting loyal or related top-level officials from prosecution. Museveni denies these claims, stating that whenever sufficient evidence exists, prosecutions occur, including those of lawmakers and ministers.
In a recent speech, Museveni warned the youth against participating in the planned protests, alleging they are sponsored by foreigners.
“Some elements, some of them from the opposition, are always working with the foreigners to foment chaos in Uganda – riots, illegal demonstrations, illegal and inconsiderate processions, etc. These people should check themselves or we shall have no alternative but to check them,” he said.
