National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has issued an urgent security alert to party leaders and activists, warning of what he described as a renewed operation of abductions and enforced disappearances targeting opposition supporters ahead of the 2026 general elections.
In a statement shared on his official social media platforms on Monday, Kyagulanyi alleged that an outfit known as Crime Intelligence had activated a coordinated operation aimed at arresting and detaining NUP leaders and pro-change activists, particularly in Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono and surrounding districts. He claimed that similar operations were also targeting activists in other urban centres across the country.
According to Kyagulanyi, the operation allegedly began on Monday, with “several comrades” already picked up. He further alleged that the operatives had been deployed in groups, each tasked with abducting at least 10 leaders or activists within their areas of operation.
“We have credible information that this criminal operation started yesterday,” Kyagulanyi said, adding that the targeting of opposition figures was intensifying as the country heads toward the next elections.
Using the Luganda word “webereremu”—loosely translated as “get involved/participate,”—Kyagulanyi urged NUP leaders and supporters to be extremely vigilant and to take precautionary measures to protect themselves and their families.
Among the measures he advised were disabling live location sharing on mobile phones, avoiding predictable routines, not moving alone, especially at night, and being alert to suspicious vehicles or individuals around their homes.
He also cautioned activists against holding sensitive conversations on phone calls, particularly those related to vote protection, and advised them to secure their devices with strong passwords.
Kyagulanyi warned that security operatives could allegedly use family members as bait to extract information on activists’ whereabouts.
Despite the alleged security threats, the NUP leader rallied supporters to continue mobilising for what he termed a “protest vote” in 2026. He urged Ugandans not to wait for instructions from political leaders, saying the struggle for change should be owned by the people themselves.
“The regime will target leaders, but they cannot kill us all. They cannot arrest us all,” Kyagulanyi said, adding that even if leaders are arrested, supporters should step in to play their roles, including acting as polling agents where necessary.
Security agencies have since denied the allegations, saying whoever is arrested is formally produced in courts of law.
Police Chief Abbas Byakagaba, while interacting with the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda, said, “I would like to explain the arrests by saying that the people we are arresting are taken to court. I have committed that we will continue serving Ugandans without impartiality, but my biggest emphasis is that we encourage Ugandans to follow the law. I also encourage my people [police] to do everything within the law.”
