Police in Dokolo District have arrested 14 bouncers suspected of being hired to cause violence ahead of Thursday’s National Resistance Movement (NRM) primary elections.
The men, all reportedly recruited from Lira City, were intercepted around 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Rego-Rego Trading Centre along the Lira–Dokolo highway. They were travelling in a Toyota Hiace (commonly referred to as a drone taxi), registration number UBP 983P, which was subsequently impounded.
North Kyoga Regional Police Spokesperson, SP Patrick Jimmy Okema, said the operation was intelligence-led and aimed at preventing violence linked to internal party elections.
“Preliminary findings indicate that the bouncers were hired by one of the contestants for the Dokolo South parliamentary seat, with intentions to cause violence. Their exact motive is still under investigation,” SP Okema said.
The suspects are currently being held at Dokolo Central Police Station, where the vehicle is also being kept as part of ongoing investigations.
Okema issued a stern warning to those who label themselves as bouncers, saying their activities are illegal and unauthorized under Uganda’s laws.
“We want to send a very strong warning to those who call themselves bouncers to desist from involving themselves in security work. They are not recognized by the Constitution, and therefore their operations are illegal,” he said.
The arrests follow recent warnings by government officials about the growing trend of politicians using private muscle to intimidate opponents and voters during electoral events.
Lira Resident City Commissioner, Lawrence Egole, had earlier cautioned against the recruitment and deployment of bouncers in political contests.
Speaking during a media briefing in Lira City on Wednesday, Egole said: “We shall not allow any parallel security structures. Any bouncer seen trying to do police work will be arrested and prosecuted. Only constitutionally recognized security agencies are allowed to manage public order.”
Police have since launched investigations to determine who sponsored the movement of the suspects from Lira and what role they were expected to play in the Dokolo primaries.