Heavy security deployment was reported on Tuesday night at Lira City Hotel, where National Unity Platform (NUP) president and presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, was residing.
Eyewitnesses said officers from the Field Force Unit (FFU), commanded by Moses Mukiibi, arrived at the hotel around 8:00 p.m. and began knocking on several room doors in what appeared to be a coordinated search operation.
Sources who spoke on condition of anonymity told reporters that the officers were allegedly searching for two individuals identified as Geofrey Onzima, alias Tower, and Natumanya Andrew, also known as Ninye Tabz.
In a live TikTok broadcast, Bobi Wine said police officers were breaking into rooms without disclosing their intentions.
“They are breaking into each of the rooms without revealing their actual purpose,” Kyagulanyi said during the stream.
Reports indicate that the operation began shortly after two heavily packed police vehicles arrived near Armaflex Hotel before proceeding to Lira City Hotel. Moments later, Tabz posted on X (formerly Twitter):
“BREAKING: Police is now breaking into the hotel where Bobi Wine is residing in Lira. The receptionist has been arrested and they’re knocking on every room. They’re commanded by FFU’s Mukiibi with a number of plain-clothed operatives, and their car number plates are covered!”
The post quickly went viral, sparking the hashtag #BobiWineUnderAttack, which trended across the platform for several hours.
NUP sources said police had earlier arrested about 15 of their colleagues and impounded one of the “drones” (vans) in Kyagulanyi’s convoy.
According to campaign officials, Kyagulanyi’s team was initially scheduled to spend the night in Soroti, but a downpour that cut off roads in Alebtong and Otuke forced them to return to Lira City, where they planned to prepare for rallies in Abim and Kotido.
As of press time, the Uganda Police Force had not issued an official statement regarding the raid or the reported arrests.
This is a developing story.
