The National Unity Platform (NUP) party president, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, has vowed to continue his campaign trail despite the arrest of several party supporters, foot soldiers, and members of his security team.
While addressing a press conference on Friday, 7th November, 2025, at Rad Motel in Mbarara, Kyagulanyi said the arrests would not hinder his efforts to reach every part of Uganda and spread his message of change.
“We are going to traverse the whole country even with all these disruptions. They have arrested over 100 of my supporters and some members of my security team, but I promise you, we are still moving on. We shall be in Rwampara and Ntungamo districts on 8th November, 2025 for our rallies,” Kyagulanyi said.
The NUP leader also accused the Electoral Commission (EC) of bias, claiming that its chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama, has failed to address the opposition’s calls for fair treatment during campaigns.
“We have written to the EC chairman, Justice Simon Byabakama, several times about our concerns, but in vain. We shall continue to urge him to come forward and address our urgent issues as they arise,” Kyagulanyi added.
However, police have defended the arrests. The police spokesperson ACP Rusoke Kitumwa told reporters that the detained supporters were being investigated for violent conduct and should not be treated as being above the law.
“We are targeting individuals with criminal records. While in Abim, some foot soldiers assaulted a police officer, and on November 5th in Kiruhura, others attacked a journalist from Tayari TV,” Rusoke noted.
Kyagulanyi, who received a warm welcome in Mbarara District, reaffirmed his plans to proceed to Rwampara and Ntungamo for the next phase of his presidential rallies.
The party’s secretary general, David Lewis Rubongoya, said NUP would not be intimidated, insisting that the party remains committed and will not give up on the fight for freedom for all political prisoners.
“As NUP, we shall not relent. We continue to demand the release of all our political prisoners, and we will not be deterred from moving to every part of the country,” Rubongoya said.
As the NUP campaign enters its sixth week, several of its supporters remain in detention without trial, something the party describes as political persecution.
