Police in Oyam District have arrested two youths accused of defacing campaign posters belonging to the National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential flag bearer, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, ahead of his scheduled campaign visit to the district on Tuesday.
The suspects, identified as Kenneth Onyang and Innocent Odyek, were arrested on Sunday evening in Oyam Town Council, according to the North Kyoga Regional Police Spokesperson, SP Patrick Jimmy Okema.
“Last evening, we arrested two youths from Oyam Town Council for defacing a duly nominated presidential candidate for the NRM party, His Excellency General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni,” Okema said.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects allegedly removed and destroyed posters mounted on electric poles in the area. The act contravenes Section 82(1) of the Presidential Elections Act, 2005, which prohibits interference with campaign materials of any duly nominated candidate.
Under the law, anyone who, without lawful excuse, destroys, defaces, or removes a candidate’s campaign poster commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding forty-eight currency points (about Shs960,000) or imprisonment for up to two years, or both.
Okema said the suspects are currently detained at Oyam Central Police Station as investigations continue.
“If there is substantial evidence, and defacing is something that can be clearly seen, we will forward their file to the Resident State Attorney for appraisal and legal guidance on the charges to be preferred,” Okema added.
He warned the public against acts of vandalism, urging locals to respect campaign materials for all duly nominated candidates as the 2026 general elections draw closer.
President Museveni is expected to campaign in Oyam District on Tuesday as part of his mobilisation tour of the Lango Sub-region, where he will address rallies to consolidate NRM support ahead of next year’s polls.
