The National Unity Platform (NUP) president, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, has condemned what he described as “well-orchestrated political violence” against his campaign team in Western Uganda.
In a post on his official X account, Kyagulanyi stated that his team was attacked by “well-mobilised gangs” carrying posters of President Yoweri Museveni and wearing yellow T-shirts during their campaign activities. The incident, he said, took place ahead of their planned campaign in Isingiro District.
“Everything was caught on camera and we are aware that some of the goons were mobilised by the mayor of Sanga town council,” Kyagulanyi said, adding that the attacks were intended to “tarnish the image of our comrades from western Uganda and drive a divisive agenda premised on tribalism.”
The opposition leader revealed that about 20 members of his team were arrested on Wednesday night after what he termed as a “regime-backed” raid on their hotel residences.
Kyagulanyi further alleged that the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Isingiro had deployed individuals disguised in National Unity Platform shirts looted from the party’s offices to stage attacks against National Resistance Movement (NRM) supporters, in an attempt to paint NUP as violent.
“As the NUP, we are non-violent and operate within the confines of the law. Wherever we have been, you have not witnessed any mayhem,” he emphasised.
He criticised the continued obstruction of his campaign activities in Western Uganda, calling it “barbaric” and insisting that such actions would not deter him from engaging with supporters.
“What transpired yesterday is well-orchestrated political violence by the regime, but fortunately, all their criminality was filmed on camera. We were the ones attacked, but we are the ones being arrested,” he wrote.
Kyagulanyi said the attackers were protected by the police and accused security forces of targeting his security and media team, citing similar incidents that happened earlier in Lira.