UgandaToday: Kyagulanyi’s Masaka Rally Held Peacefully Amid Ongoing Outcry Over Arrests of NUP Supporters
Masaka, Uganda — November 29, 2025
In a rare moment of calm on the National Unity Platform (NUP) campaign trail, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu’s presidential rally in Masaka City on Saturday proceeded peacefully, drawing thousands of enthusiastic supporters and marking a sharp contrast from the violent dispersals, mass arrests, and confrontations that defined his previous stops in Mbarara, Bwizibwera, Arua, Kawempe, and other districts.
The Masaka event, held under heavy public anticipation following days of warnings from local authorities, unfolded without the tear gas, beatings, and running battles that have lately become characteristic of Kyagulanyi’s campaign environment.
A Peaceful Rally Amid a Troubled Campaign Trail
Saturday’s rally stood out against the grim pattern of harassment that has trailed NUP events since early November.
Just a month ago, Kyagulanyi’s rallies in Mbarara and Bwizibwera were violently dispersed, with more than 100 supporters arrested, many allegedly beaten and detained incommunicado. Similar crackdowns in Arua, Kampala, Lira, Kasese, Kayunga, Jinja and Iganga have pushed the total number of detained NUP supporters to what the party estimates as over 400 people, currently distributed across various police cells and prison facilities. Confirmed death of one Akello was reported by police in Iganga
NUP leaders maintain that the arrests are politically orchestrated to frustrate Kyagulanyi’s momentum and cripple grassroots mobilisation. Families of the detainees accuse security forces of denying access to lawyers and medical care, with some reporting that their relatives were picked up by plain-clothed operatives and driven away in unmarked vehicles.
Against this backdrop, Saturday’s calm in Masaka was both unexpected and symbolic, with many supporters interpreting it as proof that peaceful campaigns are possible when security agencies exercise restraint.
Kyagulanyi: “Vote, Witness, Protect Your Vote”
Addressing a packed rally at Masaka Saza Grounds, Kyagulanyi used the peaceful moment to deliver one of his strongest calls yet for electoral vigilance. He urged supporters to not only turn up in large numbers but also “vote, witness, and protect their votes”, asserting that citizen oversight is anchored in law.
Quoting the Presidential Elections Act, 2005 — Section 31 (4), Kyagulanyi reminded voters that:
“Every voter is entitled to vote by secret ballot in a single ballot box at a polling station.”
He stressed that this legal provision affirms the right of every Ugandan to freely cast, observe, and safeguard their vote without intimidation or interference.
“This election will not be protected by the powerful — it will be protected by the people,” he told supporters. “Know your rights, exercise them boldly, and don’t allow anyone to steal your future.”
A Contrast With the Electoral Commission’s Position
Kyagulanyi’s remarks come shortly after the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) issued a warning this week condemning increasing campaign disorder across the country. The IEC criticized candidates and supporters for allegedly violating traffic rules, convening unscheduled rallies, engaging in confrontations, and destroying opponents’ materials.
While calling for calm, the Commission’s statement focused largely on candidate conduct and did not address the widespread public concern regarding heavy-handed policing, selective enforcement, and allegations of excessive force by security officers — concerns overwhelmingly raised by NUP in recent weeks.
Kyagulanyi, directly attacking the Commission, contrasted his call for lawful citizen participation with what he described as the IEC’s “lukewarm commitment” to protecting voters and ensuring equal treatment for all candidates.
Key Issues Highlighted by Kyagulanyi in Masaka
During the Masaka rally, Kyagulanyi touched on a range of political and socioeconomic issues, including:
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The nationwide detention of NUP supporters, which he called unjust, unlawful, and politically motivated.
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The urgent need for electoral transparency, including timely display of voter registers and clear guidelines for vote transmission.
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The protection of assembly and expression, which he argued has been increasingly violated by state agencies.
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Youth unemployment, poor healthcare, and collapsing education infrastructure, which he said exemplify the consequences of “misrule and corruption.”
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Regional economic inequality, especially the neglect of rural communities in infrastructure and agricultural support.
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Security excesses, especially the use of plain-clothed operatives, dogs, and unmarked vehicles during arrests.
Kyagulanyi framed the election as a choice between “fear and freedom,” urging Masaka residents to stand firm and “restore dignity to Ugandan politics.”
A Turning Point or Temporary Calm?
While yesterday’s peaceful rally was welcomed by both supporters and observers, analysts remain cautious. With hundreds still detained and previous rallies violently disrupted, there are lingering questions about whether Masaka marks a turning point or merely a brief pause in an otherwise turbulent campaign season.
As Uganda moves closer to the 2026 polls, many are watching to see whether security agencies will maintain the professionalism exhibited in Masaka — or whether the cycle of confrontation will resume when Kyagulanyi’s campaign heads to its next destination.
For now, Masaka stands as a reminder that peaceful political engagement remains possible — and that the tone of the campaign is not predetermined, but a choice.
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