By Ben Musanje
Inspector General of Police Abbas Byakagaba has singled out the National Unity Platform (NUP) as the political party causing the most challenges for law enforcement during the ongoing electoral campaigns.
Addressing the media at Police Headquarters in Naguru, Byakagaba cited unlawful processions, campaigning beyond permitted hours, verbal and physical abuse of officers, and stone-pelting at security personnel.
With just weeks to the January 2026 general elections, Uganda’s campaign trail has turned into a battlefield. From Lira to Iganga, police have reported repeated attacks on officers, destruction of property, and clashes that have left several injured.
On October 28, supporters of the NUP presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine allegedly punctured police vehicle tyres, stole key chips, and damaged equipment in Lira.
The following day in Abim district, private guards linked to the candidate assaulted a civilian, leaving him hospitalized according to the police.
The chaos escalated in late November, when NUP-led processions in Kawempe division (Kampala) and Kayunga district saw police pelted with stones, multiple officers injured, and vehicles damaged.
Attempts to enforce rally guidelines and halt campaigns past the 6p.m. curfew led to tense stand-offs, with crowds dispersed in several districts. Tragically, during a post-rally dispersal in Iganga, a civilian lost their life, highlighting the dangerous stakes of these confrontations.
Byakagaba emphasized that the police have acted decisively where necessary, including a November 7 operation in Mbarara to arrest suspects involved in acts of violence across the country. “We strongly condemn all forms of electoral violence and lawlessness,” he said, warning that Uganda’s socio-economic stability and peace must not be jeopardized for political gain.
The Police Boss stressed that campaigns must balance political expression with the rights of ordinary citizens to conduct daily life.
He warned against the misuse of artificial intelligence and the formation of private security outfits, reminding all parties that protection of candidates is the role of state security agencies, not partisan militias.
As Uganda heads into the final stretch of the campaign season, the police chief’s message is clear: elections must remain peaceful, and any breaches of the law will be met with firm enforcement.
With tensions high and NUP at the center of the storm, the coming weeks could determine whether Uganda’s electoral process will proceed peacefully or descend into further unrest.
