Faith Nyasuguta
Soldiers and police officers have cordoned off the headquarters of Uganda’s largest opposition party in what a police spokesperson described as a precautionary measure ahead of planned anti-government protests scheduled for Tuesday, despite an existing ban.
National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi, widely known as Bobi Wine, reported on social media platform X that security forces had surrounded NUP’s headquarters in Kampala, preventing anyone from entering or leaving. Wine claimed several NUP leaders had been “violently arrested” and shared photos showing military personnel and army trucks at the site.
“The military and police have raided and surrounded the National Unity Platform offices,” Wine said. “The cowardly regime is so afraid of the people because they know how much they have wronged them!”
Efforts to reach police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke for comments on the reported arrests were unsuccessful.
Bobi Wine, 42, a pop star turned politician, has become the most significant challenger to President Yoweri Museveni, 79, who has ruled Uganda since 1986. Young Ugandans, who have led recent protests, plan to march to parliament on Tuesday to protest alleged widespread corruption and human rights abuses under Museveni’s extended rule.
Wine emphasized that while his party was not organizing the Tuesday protests, it supported the cause. Rusoke stated that security forces had taken precautionary measures due to NUP’s mobilization efforts for the protest. “We have been monitoring their activities, which raised a red flag, and we took precautionary measures,” he explained.
While protests are legally allowed in Uganda, organizers must obtain permits from the police, which are rarely granted. Opposition leaders and human rights activists argue that corruption and misuse of government funds are rampant in Uganda. They have long accused Museveni of shielding politically loyal or related top-level officials from prosecution.
Museveni has consistently denied these allegations, asserting that culprits are prosecuted when there is sufficient evidence. He pointed to the prosecution of lawmakers and ministers as examples.
On Monday, Museveni instructed the Criminal Investigations Directorate to “arrest and prosecute all government officials linked to ghost civil servants on the payroll,” his government announced on X. In a Saturday speech, he cautioned Ugandan youth against participating in the planned protests, alleging foreign sponsorship.
“Some elements, including those from the opposition, are working with foreigners to create chaos in Uganda – riots, illegal demonstrations, and inconsiderate processions,” Museveni said. “These people should check themselves, or we shall have no alternative but to check them.”
The NUP headquarters’ closure and the arrest of its leaders come amid increasing tensions between the government and opposition groups. Wine’s rise as a political figure has galvanized significant support, particularly among the youth, who are frustrated with the long-standing government.
Wine has consistently criticized Museveni’s administration, accusing it of corruption, repression, and failure to address the needs of ordinary Ugandans. The NUP’s popularity has surged, with many viewing Wine as a symbol of change and hope.
The planned protests on Tuesday are seen as a critical test of the government’s tolerance for dissent. With the youth at the forefront, the demonstrations aim to highlight issues of corruption and human rights abuses that have plagued Uganda for decades.
Museveni’s government has often responded to dissent with heavy-handed tactics, including arrests and violent crackdowns on protesters. The international community has frequently condemned these actions, calling for respect for human rights and democratic principles.
As Uganda braces for the protests, the government’s response will likely influence the country’s political landscape. The clash between the youthful opposition and the entrenched regime shows the broader struggle for democratic governance and accountability in Uganda.
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