National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, has accused the government of coercing pupils and students into attending President Yoweri Museveni’s campaign rallies.
He alleged a growing trend of district officials directing schools to release learners to inflate crowd numbers.
In a statement, Kyagulanyi claimed that President Museveni, whom he described as “rejected by the population,” was increasingly relying on primary and secondary schoolchildren to fill rallies across the country.
He cited a letter purportedly written by the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Kamuli District authorising schools to release students for an NRM rally.
According to Kyagulanyi, similar instructions were recently reported in Adjumani and other districts.
“Here is the Chief Administrative Officer of Kamuli District authorising schools to release students to go and show ‘love’ to the despot,” Kyagulanyi said.
“The last time, it was the CAO of Adjumani District, and we’ve continued to see more than half of his rallies comprised of pupils and students,”he added.
Kyagulanyi further alleged that in some districts, including Mbale, pupils dressed in yellow NRM T-shirts had instead chanted NUP’s “People Power” slogan in protest.
“In Mbale and many other districts, students who were forced to attend these rallies were instead chanting our ‘People Power’ slogan in protest of this criminality,” he said, accusing the government of exploiting minors and violating education policies.
He added that the alleged mobilisation of students reflects “desperation” within the ruling establishment and urged opposition supporters to remain resolute.
“The regime no longer has any shame. Let’s continue pushing. Victory is in sight,” Kyagulanyi said.
Government officials had not responded to the allegations by press time.
Uganda’s education guidelines prohibit the involvement of schoolchildren in partisan political activities, and similar accusations in the past have drawn condemnation from child rights groups.