National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, was on Tuesday repeatedly blocked by security forces from accessing his scheduled campaign venues in Bunyangabu, Fort Portal City and Kabarole District.
Kyagulanyi’s convoy was first intercepted in Bunyangabu, where his rally was dispersed. Later in the afternoon, he was stopped again at Butebe Trading Centre, about a kilometre from Fort Portal City, where police and military officers mounted a roadblock preventing him from proceeding to his second rally.
Visibly frustrated, Kyagulanyi stepped out of his vehicle and attempted to proceed on foot, prompting security officers to grab him in a scuffle that left his shirt torn. Displaying the torn garment to supporters and journalists, he said: “This is what they have reduced our country to. I am a duly nominated presidential candidate—why tear my shirt for simply walking to my campaign venue?”
Supporters who had gathered along the road chanted in protest as police fired teargas and dispersed crowds blocking access to St. Leo’s College, Kyegobe, his final rally venue of the day.
Kyagulanyi later posted on X (formerly Twitter), saying he had been held at the barricade for hours:
“It’s now 6:57 pm, past campaign time, and we’re still held here. Since 3 pm, no vehicle—not even an ambulance—has been allowed through. We don’t know what they intend to do to us.”
Earlier in the afternoon, he expressed frustration over repeated diversions and blockades: “Nearly two hours later, we are still held in the middle of the road—just 10 minutes from our rally in Kabarole. They insist we use an alternative rural route to delay us by several hours. We encountered similar blockades in Bunyangabu that made it impossible to campaign.”
Kyagulanyi said he had left home as early as 3 am to reach his first rally, but was diverted multiple times: “Ten hours later, I still hadn’t reached the first venue because the police kept blocking roads ahead of us. This regime is using every weapon to stop a legitimate campaign.”
Throughout the day, NUP supporters clashed with security forces, chanting and waving party symbols as teargas canisters were repeatedly fired to disperse them.
Videos captured by journalists showed Kyagulanyi confronting officers, while supporters shouted, “Let him campaign! Let him through!”
The police have not issued an official statement on the repeated blockades.
