The President of the National Unity Platform (NUP), Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has accused the Uganda Police Force of partisanship following its decision to block planned NUP mobilisation meetings in Bushenyi and Gulu.
In a statement, Kyagulanyi described the move as a continuation of what he termed as systematic suppression of opposition political activity by the ruling government.
"Following our very successful NUP leaders' convention in Mbale, the partisan police have yet again blocked our engagements in Western and Northern Uganda," Kyagulanyi said.
"Today we were meant to be in Bushenyi meeting our leaders there, while Gulu was scheduled for next week."
The statement comes just a day after the police officially notified NUP that the meetings, scheduled for April 17 in Bushenyi and April 24 in Gulu, had been suspended due to alleged violations of previous guidelines.
Police cited a traffic incident in Iganga Town involving NUP supporters as grounds for the suspension.
Kyagulanyi, however, dismissed the justification, accusing President Yoweri Museveni and the government of using security forces to stifle opposition.
"Museveni and his criminal enterprise have been moving around the country campaigning holding rallies and processions," he claimed.
He further asserted that previous efforts by the police to impose a blanket ban on NUP's nationwide tours are evidence of a regime in panic.
"Of course the regime is doing all this out of fear. On our part, we shall continue to mobilise, organise, and agitate. Our struggle will end in victory," Kyagulanyi declared.
As of publication, there has been no response from the government regarding the NUP leader’s accusations.
Meanwhile, regional police authorities in Bushenyi and Gulu have been directed to enforce the suspension of the meetings until further notice.