GULU
A tense silence hung over parts of Gulu City on Monday afternoon, shortly before chaos broke out at the venue where National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, was expected to hold his second campaign rally of the day.
At least five NUP supporters were injured after street gangs armed with bottles and machetes stormed the rally grounds, vandalising vehicles, dismantling structures and scattering campaign materials. Witnesses said the attackers appeared organised and reportedly hired to disrupt the event.
The clashes came hours after Bobi Wine’s convoy was intercepted at the Bank of Uganda branch junction along Airfield Road by UPDF soldiers and police, forcing the opposition leader to walk nearly 5 kilometres into the city. His aide and music producer, Daniel Oyirwoth Brenny, popularly known as Sir Dan Magic, was left bleeding after being struck during a confrontation with armed security personnel.
Security forces had earlier attempted to block Kyagulanyi from accessing Gulu City altogether, sparking running battles with his bodyguards and supporters. Several of NUP supporters were allegedly beaten with sticks as the standoff intensified.
By midday, most shops and businesses in Gulu City had closed as residents fled the escalating tension. The campaign stage at the rally venue had earlier been found vandalised by unknown assailants, deepening fears of planned disruption.
The Electoral Commission scheduled Kyagulanyi to campaign in Gulu City as part of his nationwide programme ahead of the 2026 General Election, but the events of the day left uncertainty hanging over whether the rally would proceed as planned.
Earlier in the day, hundreds of enthusiastic supporters welcomed the NUP presidential candidate in Adjumani Town, lining the streets as he headed to Cesia Primary School playground. The atmosphere was jubilant, with chants, banners and Ugandan flags filling the town until military personnel reportedly blocked the planned rally.
Back in Gulu, the mood remains fragile, with residents and supporters anxiously watching the unfolding standoff between security forces and the opposition candidate’s team.
