The National Unity Platform (NUP) leader, Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, has raised alarm over the abduction of four members of the party’s electoral commission. According to Kyagulanyi, Mercy Walukamba, Rovans Alex Lwanyaga, Rahma Juma, and Eddie Kayabura were forcibly taken at gunpoint on the evening of February 18, 2025, in Lungala, Mpigi District, while returning from a burial in Rakai District.
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Kyagulanyi, through his “X” platform, expressed deep concern for their safety, stating that witnesses saw multiple individuals being violently taken away in unmarked drones. He called for the immediate release of the abducted party members.
When contacted, Katonga region police spokesperson Karim Majid claimed he was unaware of the incident but promised to investigate, assuring that further details would be provided after verification.
The abduction follows a controversial statement by the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who recently vowed on social media to make NUP “weep.” The opposition party has interpreted this as a direct threat, accusing the government of escalating intimidation and harassment against its members.
The incident also comes in the wake of a confrontation between NUP supporters and a Catholic priest in Rakai District during the burial of councilor John Marry Ssebufu’s mother. Rev. Fr. Kato had cautioned against turning the funeral into a political rally, sparking tensions with the attending NUP members. Despite the friction, politicians were eventually allowed to speak, with Ssebufu lamenting that he was denied an opportunity to serve his people in the last general elections.
Amid growing concerns for opposition safety, heavy police, army, and Joint Anti-Terrorism (JAT) unit deployments were spotted outside NUP headquarters in Makerere, Kavule, on February 19, 2025. The security presence coincided with the opposition’s planned joint prayers for detained veteran politician Dr. Kizza Besigye and other political prisoners.
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