National Unity Platform (NUP) Parliamentary candidates and aspirants for positions in the local government elections were among those who were arrested by the police in Mbarara on Friday.
They were arrested by the Police and the military operatives who blocked the party’s presidential candidate, Mr Robert Kyagulanyi along the Mbarara-Ibanda Road as he proceeded to his second campaign rally in Bwizibwera, Mbarara District.
Mr Kyagulanyi on Saturday said that among the over 100 supporters arrested during the operation are three candidates contesting for Member of Parliament seats in the districts of Rwampara and Isingiro.
They included Sara Kiconco, the Woman Member of Parliament candidate for the Rwampara District, Jim Muyambi, the candidate for the Rwampara East Constituency, and Emmanuel Kihembo. Others are aspirants at the local government level.
‘Yesterday, more than a hundred of our comrades were arrested as we headed for our last rally in Mbarara. Many of them were beaten, tortured, and they are now detained,’ he said.
Mr Kyagulanyi said that the biggest percentage of those arrested were from Mbarara.
He further condemned the act of detaining his supporters with handcuffs on.
‘Our People spent the night in handcuffs. This is illegal; many were beaten for no reason whatsoever,’ he narrated.
Mr Kyagulanyi accused the police of arresting and charging his people in Kiruhura District, yet they are the ones who were reportedly attacked by goons dressed in yellow T-shirts with Museveni’s picture, and holding Museveni’s posters.
‘Our comrades were arrested and were accused of assaulting the people who attacked us; all of you were watching when they came and attacked us with sticks and stones, and they were being protected by the police,’ he said.
After the press briefing, Mr Kyagulanyi headed for his rallies in Rwampara and Ntungamo Districts.
Meanwhile, the Uganda Police on Friday said the arrests in Mbarara District targeted Mr Kyagulanyi’s supporters with criminal records, including assault of officers, destroying government property, and those who obstructing officers on duty.
“Candidates are cautioned against engaging in violence, and any individual choosing this path will be held personally accountable. All political actors are urged to conduct themselves civilly, respect legal frameworks, maintain peace throughout the campaign period, and follow campaign guidelines as issued by all regulatory stakeholders,” a police statement on their X handle reads in part.
Opposition supporters, especially NUP members, have been a target of police and military operations for years, with political commentators viewing it as a deliberate move by the state and the ruling government to suppress dissent.
Several opposition supporters are in detention over what their leaders describe as trumped-up charges. Many have spent nearly five years in jail without trial.