National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has accused the state of widespread human rights abuses and institutional bias, saying 2025 was marked by abductions, torture and prolonged detentions of government critics.
In a New Year address delivered on Thursday at the NUP headquarters in Makerere-Kavule, Kyagulanyi said many Ugandans had been silenced through violence, intimidation and exile for supporting what he termed the struggle for a “New Uganda.”
“As we remember those we lost in 2025, we must also think of the many who were abducted, tortured, disappeared, exiled, murdered, or simply threatened into silence for supporting the struggle for a New Uganda,” Kyagulanyi said.
He singled out several opposition supporters and activists he said were being held without trial, including Eddie Mutwe, whom he claimed was abducted on April 27, 2025, tortured and remains in detention without medical treatment.
“Since he was abducted on 27th April 2025 and personally tortured to near death by dictator Museveni’s son, Eddie Mutwe remains captive in prison without treatment or trial,” Kyagulanyi said.
He also cited the continued detention of Machete Yasin, Ashraf Kalanzi and others, whom he said have spent five years on remand at Kitalya prison, as well as NUP Deputy Spokesperson Waiswa Mufumbiro and other party supporters.
Kyagulanyi further referred to the alleged abduction of veteran opposition figure Dr Kizza Besigye from Kenya in November 2024, saying he remains in prison to date.
“Two years ago, on 16th November 2024, Dr Kizza Besigye was abducted from Kenya, smuggled back into Uganda, and sent to prison where he also remains,” he said.
The opposition leader accused state institutions, including the police, the military and the Electoral Commission, of abandoning their constitutional mandates in favour of the ruling establishment.
“State institutions like the police, the military, and the Electoral Commission itself, which should protect the Constitution and the people, chose instead to serve the interests of the regime,” Kyagulanyi said. “No individual or institution has the authority to override our Constitution.”
He warned against what he described as the selective application of the law through guidelines and directives that contradict the Constitution, urging citizens to reject such measures.
Kyagulanyi also addressed the growing prominence of the national flag in NUP’s #ProtestVote2026 campaign, describing it as a symbol of resistance. He urged citizens to defend anyone attacked for carrying the flag, while maintaining that the struggle remains non-violent.
“Our struggle remains non-violent, but there is no dignity in taking an unfair beating lying down if we can defend ourselves against it,” he said, adding that the Constitution permits citizens to take action in its defence.
Calling on Ugandans to embrace courage over fear as the country enters 2026, Kyagulanyi said the coming year should mark the end of decades of authoritarian rule.
“Let this New Year mark a turning point in our country,” he said. “Uganda shall be free not by bullet but by the unbreakable will of the citizens of Uganda.”
Earlier, Kyagulanyi said NUP had concluded its final presidential campaign rally of 2025 in Lwengo District, expressing optimism with just over two weeks remaining before polling day.
“The New Year is our year for a new dawn, a new beginning and a fresh chapter,” he said. “We are very optimistic that Ugandans will achieve the much-desired redemption.”
