UPDATE: Ugandan Forces Escalate Crackdown, Local Opposition Official Under House Arrest
ENTEBBE, Uganda – The political crackdown in Uganda appears to be widening beyond national figures, with reports emerging of the targeted detention of a local opposition official.
John Socrates Mugabi, the National Unity Platform (NUP) chairperson hopeful for Entebbe Division B, is allegedly under house arrest after his home in Lugonjo zone was besieged by masked soldiers on the night of January 19, 2026.
According to local reports, the raid occurred at approximately 10:00 PM. The soldiers reportedly acted on suspicion that Mugabi—a chairperson hopeful for Entebbe municipality Division B—was mobilizing youth to stage a celebratory procession. The planned celebration was in response to a court victory for market vendors against the Entebbe Municipal Council over the unfair allocation of lockup shops in the Kitooro Taxi Park.
This incident underscores a pattern of targeted action against NUP members and officials at all levels, following the contentious national election and the public threats made by army chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba against the party’s so-called “foot soldiers.”
The detention of a local official organizing around a community-based court victory suggests the government’s suppression efforts are extending to grassroots political and civic activism. It raises further concerns about the space for opposition activity and peaceful assembly ahead of local government elections.
This development occurs amidst the ongoing crisis involving NUP leader Bobi Wine, who remains in hiding while the military occupies his home. Human rights observers warn that these actions collectively signal a severe and multi-level clampdown on dissent across Uganda.
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