“Tension broke out in Gulu today after security forces blocked NUP presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi from entering the city. His convoy was stopped, several aides — including producer Sir Dan Magic — were injured, and businesses in the area shut down as clashes intensified. A stage set up for his campaign rally was also vandalised earlier” (TV1 Uganda, 06.12.2025).
“NUP’s Robert Kyagulanyi has walked to Gulu City after the army and police blocked his vehicle from accessing the city. Some of his private bodyguards have been injured after security, notably the UPDF soldiers, beat them with sticks. He is supposed to campaign in Gulu City today” (NTV Uganda, 06.12.2025).
“UPDF and police operatives have blocked us from accessing our rally venue in Gulu city. Some of our campaign members have been brutalized during the blockade. Earlier, our own rally venue was also raided by goons who were under the regime police protection. Several of our property, music sound system and amplifier were all vandalized. The regime is enabling all sorts of violence against us and the Electoral Commission is just looking on!” (National Unity Platform, 06.12.2025).
Today, yet again, the authorities, law enforcement and the army intervened in campaign season of the National Unity Platform (NUP). Not that this is anything new for Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu or the NUP. That party have been through the ringer and tasted the fire before. The opposition leader and opposition party are known for getting into trouble for the mere reason of existing.
Just yesterday, this was reported too: “NUP presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi held a press briefing in Gulu as he headed to Nwoya, saying police confiscated their sound system again on Friday. He is set to campaign in Nwoya, Elegu and Amuru” (NTV Uganda, 05.12.2025).
So, the actions and viciousness of the authorities are just shown in Gulu. They are just amplifying it and only misses lethal action to finish their trifecta of violence against civilians. That’s just what they do and they do it to intimidate, spread fear and endanger the ones that dares to associate or gather with the opposition. Not that it is succeeding, but they do send a message.
There reports of paid NRM Youth gangs paid totals of millions of shilling of looting the NUP Headquarters and attack the ones participating in the rally in Gulu. That being high-ranking officials within the NRM who has sponsored it and also had meetings in Gulu on the 4th December 2025 ahead of it. If that is the case, then the ruling regime and their handlers are behind it all. Which shows what sort of level of impunity that is at stake. Not only the violent orders and misuse of power from the authorities, but that’s just protocol for them in the campaign season.
The hurt, the pain and the suffering of civilians should have been avoided, but that’s just the price of campaigning at this point. This is how the state operates and how it answers to dissidents. They have the violent approach and don’t mind causing harm to others. The state doesn’t value the citizens or their rights to gather or assemble. If it did, the results wouldn’t be as dire as today. The NUP shouldn’t have it this hard and tricky just to hold a campaign rally in Gulu city. However, it did and we can all see why…. Peace.
MinBane 