Ten supporters of the National Unity Platform (NUP) are in police custody in Lira after a dramatic confrontation that left a police surveillance vehicle damaged and several items stolen.
The suspects were arrested following an incident on Tuesday at Obot Primary School in Barr Sub- County, along the Lira–Alebtong highway, where they allegedly ambushed a police vehicle that was trailing the NUP presidential campaign convoy.
According to police, the vehicle — registration UP 4816, which had been operating undercover using civilian plates UBK 380Q — was assigned to Detective Julius Isabirye from the Criminal Investigations Directorate for surveillance duties.
It is alleged that the NUP team, moving in another vehicle UAN 925Q and using a green drone UA 933AU, blocked the police car, deflated all four tires using sharp metallic objects, and made off with key valuables including a Dell laptop, two jerrycans of diesel, and personal belongings worth over UGX 1.5 million.
Police sources believe the group mistook the vehicle for one carrying a signal jammer interfering with their online campaign broadcasts, as it had reportedly been following their convoy through several districts — from Manafwa and Busia to Apac, Kole, and Lira — before the confrontation.
Later that night, security operatives raided Tembo Trek Courts in Jinja Camp, Lira City, where NUP president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine) and his team were lodging, in search of the suspected ringleaders identified as Geoffrey Unzima alias Tawa and another accomplice. The two, however, were not found.
North Kyoga Regional Police spokesperson Jimmy Patrick Okema confirmed the arrests, describing the act as a “planned provocation” aimed at stirring attention in the Lango sub-region.
“We are still tracking the commanders of this group. The destruction of a police vehicle and theft of government property are serious crimes. The law will take its course,” Okema said, adding that investigations are ongoing.
But Bobi Wine fired back, accusing the police of harassment and intimidation of his campaign team.
“Our people were attacked and arrested without any reason. Police officers led by one Afande Moses Mukibii stormed our hotel, tear-gassed our rooms, and caused chaos in the middle of the night,” Kyagulanyi said. “They want to isolate me and weaken my team — but we shall not be intimidated.”
Police have since opened a case of malicious damage and robbery at Bar Sub-county Police Station under reference SD 07/28/10/2025.
Despite the tensions, Bobi Wine urged his supporters in Lango to remain calm and continue spreading his message of unity, discipline, and reconciliation as his campaign heads to the Karamoja sub-region.
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