KAMPALA
Uganda’s opposition leader and the National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has alleged that security agencies are planning to arrest him ahead of polling day as part of a wider scheme to justify a crackdown on the opposition.
In a statement posted on his X account, Kyagulanyi said he had received intelligence from what he described as “security circles” indicating a plot by the “desperate regime” to detain him before the January 15 presidential and parliamentary elections.
“I’ve learnt from security circles of a plot by the desperate regime to have me arrested before polling day in order to create a pre-emptive massacre akin to what they did in November 2020,” Kyagulanyi said, referencing the violent security response to protests in the run-up to the 2021 elections.
He claimed that his arrest would be used to justify massive arrests and alleged abductions of opposition supporters, as well as the deployment of the military across the country. Kyagulanyi further alleged that a police officer he identified as “Bravo” would be used to provoke confrontations in Mbale City and neighbouring districts to create grounds for a security crackdown.
The NUP flag bearer also accused authorities of planning to deploy individuals dressed in party colours to incite violence and portray the opposition as disorderly.
Kyagulanyi urged his supporters to remain peaceful, non-violent and “very assertive”.
By press time, police and other security agencies had not issued an official response to the claims.
Ugandans are set to go to the polls on January 15 to elect a President and Members of Parliament. According to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), Uganda has over 21 million registered voters, while eight candidates are vying for the country’s highest political office.
The allegations come amid heightened political tension, with reports of arrests and alleged abductions of individuals critical of the Government. Most recently, human rights defender Sarah Bireete was remanded to Luzira Prison until January 21 on charges of unlawfully obtaining and disclosing personal voter data, among other security-related offences.
Government has previously dismissed claims of politically motivated arrests, maintaining that security agencies are enforcing the law to ensure peace and order during the election period.
