By Ben Musanje
Police in the West Nile Region have released a comprehensive statement detailing incidents that occurred during the National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential campaigns in Arua District and Arua City on Wednesday, 19 November 2025.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Josephine Angucia, the Regional Police Spokesperson, said the day began with NUP presidential candidate Robert Sentamu Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, launching his activities at Okazara Primary School grounds in Vurra Sub-County, Arua District, although he did not address a rally there.
He then proceeded to Ovisoni Trading Centre within Vurra Sub-County, where he greeted supporters gathered along the roadside, before moving to the Giligili area in Ayivu West Division in Arua City, and later toward Onduparaka Trading Centre.
These movements, Angucia noted, were in line with the route earlier agreed upon between his coordinators and the district security committee.
Police say the agreed program was disrupted when Kyagulanyi attempted to access Arua City Centre using a direct route that had not been approved in previous joint planning meetings.
Officers blocked the attempt, after which the candidate made a U-turn as though heading toward the agreed Ediofe route to Barifa.
However, he is reported to have instead boarded a numberless boda-boda motorcycle, covered his face with a helmet, and rode through the city centre before arriving at the NUP offices in Oli Central Division in Arua City.
From the rooftop of an unfinished building housing the party office, he addressed a crowd of supporters who had gathered around him.
According to police, Kyagulanyi then proceeded with a large, energetic crowd following him along Rhino Camp Road toward Inzikuru Stadium in Barifa, where he eventually held his rally.
During this movement, a section of the crowd is alleged to have turned rowdy and hurled stones at police patrol vehicles, damaging four of them—registration numbers UP-03271, UP-03346, UP-00173 and UP-7697. Police recorded the scenes and registered multiple cases of malicious damage at Arua Central Police Station.
SSP Angucia said that CCTV footage captured during the incidents has been under analysis to identify the individuals who participated in damaging the police vehicles.
So far, 32 suspects have been arrested and detained at Arua Central Police Station to assist with further investigations. The damaged vehicles have been fully documented by scene-of-crime officers and detectives and will be inspected by the Inspector of Motor Vehicles. The search for more suspects captured on the footage is still ongoing.
Despite the tension and property damage, police confirmed that no injuries were recorded, and the rally at Inzikuru Stadium concluded without further incident.
SSP Angucia commended officers under the West Nile Regional Police Commander for what she described as professionalism and restraint in the face of provocations and acts of defiance from portions of the crowd.
She urged all political actors and supporters to follow established campaign guidelines and avoid hooliganism, noting that such behavior risks causing accidents, injuries, loss of life, and disruption of other lawful activities. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
