NRM regime using familiar script to justify abduction, torture of opposition supporters – Kyagulanyi
The National Unity Platform (NUP) presiden Mr Robert Kyagulanyi
What you need to know:
- According to Mr Kyagulanyi, it is the same script the regime uses to rationalise the abduction, torture, and disappearance of opposition supporters by falsely accusing them of being criminals in an attempt to silence and intimidate them.
President of the National Unity Platform (NUP), Mr Robert Kyagulanyi, has dismissed claims by Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) that some of the recently arrested terrorism suspects had been passing off as his party supporters.
In Friday statement, the acting director Defence Public Information, Col Chris Magezi said the security and intelligence services had over the past few months arrested and interrogated several suspects with links to organised armed rebellion, plot to bomb populated public places, and economic sabotage through the vandalism of electricity infrastructure power lines in some parts of the country especially in central Uganda.
In the case of extensive vandalism of electricity infrastructure, he listed some of the most affected districts as Wakiso, Mukono, Kayunga, Luweero, Nakaseke, Kiboga, Nakasongola, Mityana, Mubende, Mpigi, and the greater Masaka region.
“Some of the arrested suspects previously passed off as opposition political party activists, especially of the National Unity Platform (NUP) party. Many have accordingly been charged in courts of law and remanded in custody pending court hearing of their cases,” Col Magezi said.
However, Mr Kyagulanyi in a Saturday statement on his X (formerly Twitter) platform described Col Magezi’s claims as an all-too-familiar script by “the regime: manufacturing 'threats' to shield itself from accountability and justify its relentless violent persecution of whoever demands an end to its dictatorship and corruption.”
According to him, it is the same script the regime uses to rationalise the abduction, torture, and disappearance of opposition supporters by falsely accusing them of being criminals in an attempt to silence and intimidate them.
“We hope that the world can recognise these tactics for what they truly are and continue holding the regime accountable for its transgressions against the people of Uganda and humanity as a whole! The well-meaning people of Uganda will not be cowed into silence, but will continue pursuing all lawful means to put an end to the regime of blood and shame,” Mr Kyagulanyi added.
The UPDF also accused the German Ambassador to Uganda, Matthias Schauer, of sponsoring unidentified rebel groups to overthrow President Museveni, who has been in power since 1986.
ICYMI:
"We are particularly concerned about the illegal and clandestine activities of the German Ambassador in Uganda, His Excellency Mathias Schauer. The intelligence services are aware of his undiplomatic practices that have been taking place in different parts of the country for some time now, and which go against the spirit of the 1961 Vienna Diplomatic Conventions that regulate cordial relations between states," Col Magezi added in the Friday statement.
According to him, the government of Uganda is following up the matter with the concerned foreign mission through the relevant diplomatic channels to address "the disturbing development."
The German embassy is yet to comment publicly on the UPDF claims.
However, the development comes just days after a delegation from the European Union visited the NUP headquarters for a meeting with party leaders.
NUP leadership implored the European Union mission in Uganda to press hard the ruling NRM government over the deteriorating human rights situation in the country, perpetuated by the UPDF under the leadership of President Museveni's son, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who serves as the country's military chief.
The EU delegation's visit seemed to have angered Gen Muhoozi, who took to his X platform and called it “an abomination” before warning that the EU was “playing with fire.”
Gen Muhoozi, 51, has on several occasions, through his X platform, boasted of torturing opposition supporters and threatening to behead opposition leaders, including Mr Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine and veteran opposition politician Dr Kizza Besigye, who has been in prison since November 2024.
On May 21, 2025, the EU delegation also met President Museveni's younger brother, Gen Salim Saleh, who serves as the Special Presidential Adviser on Defence and Security as well as the national coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation, and reportedly expressed concern over Gen Muhoozi’s threatening posts on social media.
The diplomatic tiff comes amid a surge in arrests, enforced disappearances and reported abductions of opposition supporters, mostly from NUP, after Mr Kyagulanyi recently declared his intention to challenge Mr Museveni, 80, for the second time in the 2026 general election.
Last month, Mr Kyagulanyi's civilian head of security, Mr Edward Ssebufu, was abducted by soldiers attached to the elite Special Forces Command (SFC), which guards the president and held for over a week.
Days later, Gen Muhoozi posted on X that he was detaining him “in my basement, teaching him Runyankore”, a statement that drew widespread condemnation both locally and internationally.
Several NUP supporters and opposition leaders, including Dr Besigye, are currently incarcerated on charges including terrorism and treason, which offences opposition contends that are politically motivated.
Col Magezi insisted that the suspected local terrorist groups were well-funded and said investigators had gathered credible evidence linking their operations to external support.
“The Uganda People’s Defence Forces and the Inter-Agency Security Committee strongly condemn foreign interference in Uganda’s internal affairs and will take decisive action against those attempting to destabilise the country,” he said.
He urged Ugandan youth to avoid being manipulated by political actors exploiting their vulnerabilities, and instead to embrace government wealth-creation and development programmes.
“Those collaborating with foreign interests to subvert Uganda’s political and security stability will be identified, isolated, and dealt with firmly in accordance with the laws of the land,” he added.
Meanwhile, Parliament this week passed the UPDF Amendment Bill, 2025, reintroducing the trial of civilians in military courts, a practice previously banned by the Supreme Court in a landmark ruling delivered on January 31.
