The Uganda Police Force has released a detailed account of incidents that unfolded during campaign activities involving National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Hon. Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine in Katakwi, Kapelebyong and Amuria districts on Tuesday, December 17, citing deviations from approved routes, venues, and campaign timelines.
According to police, Kyagulanyi had been cleared to hold rallies at Toroma Primary School and Toroma Town Council, Ocorimongin Primary School in Katakwi Town Council, and Usuk Sub-county in Katakwi District. In Kapelebyong, the approved venue was Kapelebyong Primary School, while rallies in Amuria were scheduled for Amuria Secondary School and the Orungo Town Council playgrounds.
Police say the NUP candidate entered Katakwi from Kumi via the Gweri–Toroma Road but made two unauthorized stopovers at Gweri and Omasitei trading centres in Soroti District, contrary to the agreed campaign programme.
At around 1:40pm, Kyagulanyi arrived at Toroma Town Council but addressed supporters along the roadside instead of proceeding to Toroma Primary School, the approved rally venue. He later moved toward Katakwi Town Council for his second scheduled rally but declined to proceed to Ocorimongin Primary School upon reaching the Moroto–Soroti Road junction.
This resulted in a standoff with security personnel that lasted more than 30 minutes, disrupting the day’s planned activities. Police say the candidate was subsequently guided to proceed to Kapelebyong District in order to keep the campaign programme on track.
Kyagulanyi arrived at Kapelebyong Primary School at about 5:00pm, where he conducted a rally that ended at approximately 5:50pm. Due to time constraints, police say he did not proceed to Amuria District, as campaign activities had already run past the authorised 6:00pm cut-off time.
Following the Kapelebyong rally, security personnel advised the candidate to use the Kapelebyong–Apedur Road and later guided him toward an alternative route via Acowa–Akotomit–Abarirelela–Wera Town–Soroti Road for safety and compliance purposes. Police state that Kyagulanyi declined the guidance and parked his vehicle, insisting on proceeding to Amuria Town, a move security agencies rejected on grounds that campaign hours had elapsed.
The police say the measures taken were aimed at enforcing campaign guidelines uniformly while maintaining public order and safety during the ongoing electoral process.
The incident once again highlights the recurring friction between opposition campaign operations and security enforcement, as Uganda enters a politically sensitive phase of the election cycle.
