The Uganda Police Force (UPF) has dismissed allegations by National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, that security agencies are plotting to arrest him ahead of polling day and engineer violence to justify a heavy military deployment.
In a statement issued on Friday, police described the claims as “unfounded and provocative,” insisting that law enforcement agencies are committed to ensuring peaceful elections.
“The Uganda Police Force categorically dismisses allegations of a scheme to detain candidate Kyagulanyi Sentamu or engineer incidents before election day,” the statement read. “UPF provides security for the NUP candidate throughout his campaign activities, ensuring his safety.”
Police further said all arrests are conducted strictly within the law. “All apprehensions occur strictly in line with legal guidelines, with detainees processed in full compliance with the law,” UPF said, adding that its efforts are geared toward facilitating “tranquil elections” and urging political actors to promote non-violence.
The police response follows a series of urgent statements by Kyagulanyi, who claimed he had received intelligence about an alleged plan to arrest him before polling day and provoke chaos similar to the November 2020 unrest.
“I’ve learnt from security circles of a plot by the desperate regime to have me arrested before polling day to create a pre-emptive massacre akin to what they did in November 2020,” Kyagulanyi said in a social media post.
“Among other plans, is for that brutal police officer called Bravo to provoke a confrontation in Mbale City or the neighbouring districts so that they get the justification.”
Kyagulanyi also alleged that individuals would be dressed in NUP party colours to portray the opposition as violent. “The other plan is to deploy goons, dress them in our Party colours, and project us as violent,” he said, while urging supporters to remain calm. “We urge our people to remain peaceful and non-violent BUT VERY ASSERTIVE.”
The exchange comes as NUP intensified its campaign activities in Mbale City and the wider Bamasabaland region. Kyagulanyi concluded his first rally in Mbale on Friday, describing the reception as a strong endorsement of what he termed a “protest vote agenda.”
“The people of Bamasabaland have made a statement committing to our protest vote agenda,” he said. “Thank you, Mbale.”
The NUP party echoed similar sentiments, describing an enthusiastic atmosphere at the rallies and reiterating calls for peaceful but assertive participation in the electoral process.
Meanwhile, Kyagulanyi linked the alleged plot against him to the continued detention of human rights activist Dr. Sarah Bireete, who was remanded to Luzira Prison until January 21, 2026.
“When I spoke with Dr Sarah Bireete on the phone this morning, she already knew that the regime intended to keep her in detention until after the elections,” Kyagulanyi said, arguing that outspoken critics are being silenced at a critical time.
He accused authorities of targeting citizens who have exposed alleged flaws in the voters’ register and warned that denial of accreditation to some election observers in Kampala and Wakiso was a “red flag” for possible electoral malpractice.
