The National Unity Platform (NUP) started the second phase of its nationwide mobilization tours on Wednesday in preparation for the 2026 general election, in which NUP party president Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, will contest as a presidential candidate in a second attempt to oust President Museveni.
The first day of the tour faced disruption from Ugandan police and was marred with teargas and live bullets as police dispersed Wine’s supporters.
According to police, NUP’s mobilization drive in Kamuli district on Wednesday was blocked because the party wasn’t complying with the set police guidelines.
NUP secretary general David Lewis Rubongoya has written to the Inspector General of Police protesting the ‘disruption’ of their mobilization tours.
“This is to strongly protest against these violent and unlawful actions by the police and military against peaceful citizens who were trying to exercise their freedom of assembly guaranteed under Article 29 of the Constitution,” the protest letter reads in part.
Rubongoya says that although they notified the police of their mobilization tours, the police have not raised any issues about their tours.
“Whereas we wrote to you about our intended activities, we have received no formal response regarding any issues with our meetings. We have, however, heard media reports wherein Mr. Fred Enanga claimed that we hadn’t notified you about our activities,” he said.
He says it would be ‘illegal and partisan’ for the police to issue a ‘blanket ban’ on their activities while other political actors, especially those aligned with the ruling party NRM, go on with their mobilization activities.
NUP will resume its mobilization tours on Friday, May 24, 2024, with a drive to Pallisa.
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