Uganda opposition office under security ‘lockdown’ – politician (VIDEO)

The National Unity Platform’s leader says troops have surrounded its headquarters after the African nation’s president warned of protests

Ugandan police and army officers have besieged the headquarters of the African nation’s largest opposition party, the National Unity Platform (NUP), the coalition’s leader, Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine reported on Monday.

The incident comes ahead of anti-government protests scheduled for Tuesday, which have been banned by the East African country’s authorities.

In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), the musician turned politician claimed that the NUP’s office near the capital, Kampala, had been raided and “turned into military barracks.”

“Several leaders have been violently arrested. They have now blocked the roads leading to the office. All because they are scared of the people,” Bobi Wine wrote.

Ugandan youth plan to march to parliament on Tuesday to demonstrate against alleged widespread corruption and human rights violations under President Yoweri Museveni’s administration. The expected demonstrations in Uganda are said to have been motivated in part by recent youth-led rallies in neighboring Kenya, where dozens of anti-tax protesters have been killed in clashes with riot police.

On Saturday, President Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, warned against anti-corruption marches in Uganda, saying organizers would be “playing with fire” if they proceeded.

In an address, the leader accused the protest organizers, some of whom he claimed are part of the opposition, of “always working with foreigners” to stir up chaos in Uganda. He said his government, which is “busy producing wealth,” will not tolerate any disturbance.

Read more

The Uganda Police Force (UPF) has declined to grant permission for the demonstrations, stating that they “would likely result in significant traffic congestion, disruption of trade, and disturbances to public order.”

Watch: Police have seized the vehicle of Mityana municipality MP Zaake Francis Butebi as he made his way to the party headquarters pic.twitter.com/4DOpGY5K5E

— National Unity Platform (@NUP_Ug) July 22, 2024

Reuters cited Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke as saying that the security forces had taken precautionary measures against NUP’s “mobilization for the protest.”

NUP leader Bobi Wine has denied that the planned anti-corruption rallies are an opposition initiative but declared that his party supports “every effort to protest against injustice, corruption, and misrule.” The 42-year-old pop star has emerged as Museveni’s biggest opponent in recent years. He unsuccessfully challenged the leader in the most recent 2021 elections, obtaining 35.08% against 58.38%.