National Unity Platform Office Vandalized in Gulu Ahead of Bobi Wine Visit
GULU CITY, UGANDA – The office of Uganda’s main opposition party, the National Unity Platform (NUP), in Gulu City was raided and vandalized in the early hours of Thursday morning, just days before a planned visit by party leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine. Party officials have blamed the incident on state-sponsored intimidation.
The Incident and Allegations
According to NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya, the break-in occurred between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. local time. Unidentified individuals destroyed office furniture and party records and made off with several valuables.
In a statement on X, Bobi Wine accused “regime operatives” of carrying out the raid, alleging a coordinated effort to disrupt his party’s activities. “In the wee hours of the morning, regime operatives raided the office and destroyed our materials,” he posted. “According to onlookers, the military blocked off all roads leading to the office while this criminality was going on.”
Rubongoya corroborated the claim of military involvement, stating that party members who rushed to the scene found roads blocked by military personnel. He drew parallels to past elections, noting, “Similar thing they did in Gulu and Lira in the last election. Same thing they did in the Omoro by-election.”
Political Context and Timing
The vandalism comes at a time of heightened political tension as Uganda begins preparations for the 2026 general elections. Bobi Wine is scheduled to visit Gulu City on Saturday, and the incident is widely seen by his supporters as an attempt to intimidate the opposition and disrupt mobilization efforts in a key region.
Northern Uganda, where Gulu is located, is a significant political battleground. The NUP has linked this event to a pattern of intimidation it says its supporters face in the region.
Official Response and Unverified Claims
As of now, Ugandan security agencies and government spokespersons have not issued an official comment on the incident. The police have not released a statement regarding an investigation.
Amid the online discussion, one unverified claim suggested that unpaid rent might have been a cause for the office’s trashing. This claim has not been substantiated by any official source or evidence presented by the property owner.
A Pattern of Political Tension
The incident adds to a long history of friction between the Ugandan government and the opposition. Bobi Wine, a former presidential candidate, has frequently alleged harassment of his party members and supporters. The NUP’s call to “resist and push back against this impunity” and the associated hashtag #FreeUgandaNow signal a likely escalation in political rhetoric ahead of the 2026 poll.
About The Author
