Security Blocks Bobi Wine Rally in Iganga, Citing Safety Concerns — NUP Cries Foul

Security forces on Friday halted a scheduled campaign rally by opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, in Iganga Municipality. The move sparked outrage from his National Unity Platform (NUP) party, which accused authorities of using security as a political weapon to suppress the opposition.

The military and police reportedly ordered the NUP team to either relocate their event to another constituency or cancel the campaign altogether. The directive came as the team was preparing to hold a rally in the heart of Iganga, part of Bobi Wine’s ongoing nationwide tour ahead of next year’s presidential election.

David Lewis Rubongoya, Secretary General of NUP, voiced his frustration, stating that the team had been left with no choice but to abandon the plan under pressure.

“We have been blocked from campaigning in Iganga Municipality… We have made it clear that just like other candidates, we have every right to campaign in every constituency in Uganda, including Iganga,” said Rubongoya.

Police, however, defended the decision, citing growing concerns over public safety and order. According to law enforcement, NUP campaign processions have in recent days become increasingly disorderly, obstructing traffic and putting lives at risk—particularly in busy trading hubs.

Authorities specifically referenced a recent incident in Kayunga District where Kyagulanyi’s convoy was involved in an accident that injured several people. They claim this incident underlines the urgent need for tighter control of campaign activities.

“Irresponsible use of the roads, as demonstrated in this incident, will not be tolerated. Political actors must comply with traffic laws to avoid endangering lives,” police said in a statement issued last week.

Despite the roadblock in Iganga, Kyagulanyi had earlier managed to address supporters in the nearby district of Mayuge. In his speech, he delivered a passionate critique of what he called the systemic marginalization of the Busoga sub-region.

“In the new Uganda, you won’t need to come to the capital city to earn a living — we shall bring the capital city to you. We are planning to establish regional capital cities,” he said, drawing cheers from the crowd.

Bobi Wine also emphasized the need to revamp agriculture through industrialization and value addition, arguing that the current model exploits farmers while depriving them of meaningful economic returns.

“When I’m president, families will not sell sugarcane as raw material; they will add value first,” he promised.

He did not shy away from pointing out the irony in Busoga’s economic struggles, highlighting the region’s untapped potential.

“Busoga is one of the reasons why Uganda is called the Pearl of Africa. But it is unfortunate that the Basoga are kept in poverty while their land is rich,” Kyagulanyi said.

The NUP team eventually aborted their Iganga campaign and returned to Kampala, but not without accusing the government of deliberately undermining their campaign efforts. They alleged that such security actions are part of a broader strategy to limit Kyagulanyi’s reach—particularly in urban centers where his support is visibly growing.

Yet, according to Kyagulanyi and his team, these attempts at suppression may be backfiring.

“They push us into the villages because they don’t want us in the towns. Yet in doing so, they ensure that even the most rural areas are mobilized. For that, we appreciate them,” he quipped, turning the situation into a rallying cry for deeper grassroots support.

As the election season heats up, it remains to be seen how such clashes between opposition candidates and state security will shape the political narrative. But one thing is clear: Bobi Wine’s campaign continues to gather momentum—whether in the cities or the villages.