LIRA, UGANDA – Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, the National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential flag bearer, has forcefully condemned a violent raid on his hotel residence in Lira, which he described as unprovoked.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The incident occurred on the eve of his campaign rallies in the Kotido and Abim districts, casting a shadow over his political activities in the region.
During a stark media address, Kyagulanyi detailed how state security forces invaded his private accommodation in a “blatant and barbaric assault,” which he labeled a desperate act of state-sponsored intimidation.
He confirmed to media that, prior to his delegation’s departure from the capital, Kampala, his team had received intelligence singling out a member of their group, known as “Tower,” as a target.
The NUP leader confirmed that he engaged with Police Commissioner Afande Nkore to demand an explanation. However, the account he received from police leadership stood in stark contrast to his own assessment.
“When I engaged Afande Nkore, he informed me that they raided us because they were looking for their gadgets. They allege that our comrade Tower stole a laptop and a network jammer from them,” Kyagulanyi said.
The presidential candidate maintained that his party members are law-abiding citizens and expressed skepticism about the police’s justification, stating they had yet to verify the truth of the claims.
The raid led to the arrest of fifteen NUP supporters, seven of whom were released by Wednesday morning, leaving eight still in detention.
Kyagulanyi, also also raised an alarm that police refused to record a statement from his supporter Dan Magic at every station, which he decried as absolute impunity.The police have not issued an official statement on the raid or the allegations.
The incident has fueled growing concerns over the narrowing of political space and the safety of opposition figures during the election cycle.
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