Chaos erupted at the National Unity Platform (NUP) headquarters in Makerere Kavule on Tuesday when heavily armed security forces comprising both military and police personnel stormed the premises. The operatives reportedly fired live bullets, leaving several party members injured and others arrested.
No official explanation has been provided for the raid, which has ignited outrage among opposition supporters and civil society activists.
NUP President Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, confirmed the incident via his X (formerly Twitter) account. He condemned what he described as a “criminal” attack by the security forces, saying several “comrades” were injured and unlawfully detained.
“This criminality by the regime must be exposed. No reason was given for the raid,” Kyagulanyi wrote.
According to party insiders, the raid took place shortly after Eng. Kaweesa, an aspiring MP, collected nomination forms to run for the NUP ticket in the Nansana Municipality parliamentary race.
Eyewitnesses described a heavy security deployment, with operatives ordering everyone to vacate the area before indiscriminately discharging live ammunition, causing panic and injuries.
This is not the first such incident. On May 2, 2025, the Special Forces Command (SFC) raided the same headquarters after public threats made by Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba. That operation led to the abduction of Eddie Mutwe, Bobi Wine’s chief bodyguard, who later resurfaced in court bearing visible signs of torture.
NUP leaders have denounced the latest assault as part of a broader campaign to intimidate opposition forces ahead of the 2026 general elections.
A senior NUP official, speaking to Dokolo Post under condition of anonymity due to safety concerns, described the incident as a calculated attempt to derail the party’s electoral preparations.
“The regime wants to silence the voice of the people,” the official stated. “These raids are meant to instill fear, not uphold law and order.”
While police authorities have remained silent on the June 10 incident, a previous raid in February 2025 was justified with allegations of unauthorized military training—claims that the NUP dismissed as baseless.
The raid adds to a growing list of state actions targeting the opposition. In September 2024, Kyagulanyi sustained injuries from a tear gas canister fired during a protest in Bulindo—an act NUP described as an attempted assassination.
As news of the latest incident spread, a wave of online solidarity emerged on X, with NUP supporters and rights activists demanding international condemnation. One supporter wrote, “This is not just a raid on NUP—it is a direct attack on democracy.”
As of this report, the situation remains tense. No new statements have been released by the police or military regarding the motive or legal basis for the raid.
