Magere – A lawyer aligned with the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) was briefly detained Monday while attempting to access the home of NUP president and presidential candidate Bobi Wine in Magere.
Kakuru Tumusiime, a High Court advocate and part of an NUP legal delegation, was blocked by police and military operatives when the team tried to check on family members who have reportedly remained confined at the residence since the January 15 election.
During the standoff, an altercation with masked officers led to Tumusiime’s arrest on charges of “common nuisance.” He was released hours later on bond.
The incident occurred on Bishop Janani Luwum Day, a national commemoration of the 1977 killing of the archbishop during Uganda’s turbulent past, adding a symbolic dimension to the clash.
In statements on X (formerly Twitter), Bobi Wine condemned the arrest as violent and called the ongoing security presence at his home a “siege,” accusing authorities of violating the law to consolidate power. The NUP described the police occupation of the residence as illegal and said Tumusiime endured “inhuman and degrading treatment.”
Authorities, however, defended the security measures as routine procedures requiring official clearance for anyone attempting to enter the premises.
The episode underscores continuing post-election tensions in Uganda, where opposition leaders and their supporters allege harassment, while government forces maintain that heightened security is necessary for public order.
