Tensions flared in Mukono District on Monday as police fired tear gas to disperse supporters of the National Unity Platform (NUP) who had gathered at the Nama Sub-county headquarters to register as full party members.
Chaos erupted after NUP supporters, who had assembled peacefully for the registration exercise, found the venue cordoned off by a heavy police presence. Officers had been deployed to block access to the sub-county compound, where the event was scheduled to take place.
As the crowd swelled, police began arresting individuals they identified as organizers or ringleaders, sparking a standoff with NUP members.
The arrest of several supporters further escalated tensions, prompting loud chants in support of Mukono North MP and NUP leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine.
The chants appeared to provoke police, who responded by firing tear gas canisters into the crowd. Thick plumes of smoke engulfed the area, forcing supporters to flee in all directions.
Among those targeted was Mukono North Member of Parliament, Abdullah Kiwanuka Mulimamayuni, who narrowly avoided arrest after a physical altercation with police, aided by his supporters.
Despite the confusion and the tear gas, Kiwanuka refused to enter the police cell at Nama Police Post, drawing cheers from his backers who continued to demand the release of those already detained.
The incident drew sharp criticism from NUP supporters, who accused police of political bias. They pointed out that the same venue, the Nama Sub-county headquarters, has recently hosted meetings of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) without any police interference.
“It’s clear that the police are protecting the NRM and obstructing our lawful activities,” said Badiru Kilabile, a NUP supporter. “We are simply exercising our right to organize.”
MP Kiwanuka condemned the police’s actions, alleging that his formal application to use the venue was unlawfully denied by Mukono District Police Commander Bernard Mugerwa, allegedly under pressure from political rivals within the NRM.
The legislator vowed to press ahead with the registration campaign, despite the crackdown. “This is not the first time the government has used its resources to hinder our lawful activities,” Kiwanuka said. “We will not be intimidated.”
The confrontation highlights the ongoing political tensions in Uganda, where opposition parties frequently accuse government security agencies of restricting their constitutional rights to freedom of assembly and expression.