UgandaToday: Harassment Escalates: Police Crack-down on Kyagulanyi’s Campaign — He Leaps From Car to Shield “Boda Boda” Rider
In what is fast becoming a pattern of severe repression against opposition campaigns, supporters of National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu — popularly known as Bobi Wine — have continued to face harsh police and military crackdowns. A recently shared video clip shows Kyagulanyi apparently leaping off his campaign vehicle in a desperate attempt to stop security operatives from allegedly arresting a bodaboda rider who had tried to follow him.
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Though the identity of the rider remains unconfirmed, the footage — circulating widely on social media — depicts a clearly tense standoff, with the candidate physically intervening to shield a civilian from what appears to be an arbitrary arrest. If verified, the incident underlines serious concerns about the conduct of security forces during opposition campaigns.
A pattern of intimidation and mass arrests
Since the official launch of his 2026 presidential bid, Kyagulanyi and his supporters have been repeatedly targeted across the country. According to party and independent sources, more than 300 NUP supporters — including campaign aides, foot soldiers and ordinary residents — have been detained by security forces since October 2025.
In the most recent major crackdown, at least 32 supporters were arrested in Arua City after police fired tear gas to prevent Kyagulanyi’s convoy from accessing the city for scheduled rallies. In the standoff, several police patrol vehicles were damaged — a development police officials used to justify the mass arrests.
Similarly, on 7 November 2025 in Mbarara City, over 100 NUP supporters — including parliamentary candidates — were reportedly apprehended as they attempted to attend a rally in Bwizibwera. Kyagulanyi’s camp condemned the arrests as violent and unlawful.
Allegations of targeting civilians & misuse of force
Critics — including human rights observers and legal analysts — argue that the crackdown appears less about restoring order and more about systematically undermining the opposition’s campaign. According to a report analyzing recent campaign events, many arrests and disruptions occurred in key electoral zones such as Central Uganda, where Kyagulanyi is known to draw large crowds.
While the police maintain that their operations target only “criminal elements” — citing vandalism, attacks on officers, and destruction of vehicles — opposition leaders and independent monitors warn that many of those detained were peaceful supporters, campaign volunteers, or civilians mistakenly rounded up.
What this portends for Uganda’s upcoming elections
The recent wave of detentions, rally disruptions, and alleged harassment raise serious questions about the ability of opposition figures to campaign freely in the run-up to Uganda’s January 2026 general election. Observers fear that continued security crackdowns could intimidate voters, suppress public rallies, and limit political pluralism — undermining democratic norms.
Kyagulanyi and his supporters have warned that such incidents reflect a broader pattern of state-sanctioned suppression. Unless addressed swiftly, the crackdown risks further alienating citizens and could provoke renewed unrest, especially in already volatile regions.
Given the gravity of these allegations, Ugandan and international human rights bodies should closely monitor all subsequent arrests, detentions, and uses of force — ensuring accountability, protecting civilians, and preserving the democratic space.
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