Summary
15 National Unity Platform (NUP) leaders and supporters have been forcibly arrested and remanded to Luzira Prison on charges of defacing President Museveni’s posters. In reality, these arrests appear to be a preemptive crackdown ahead of Museveni’s upcoming visit to Kampala — aimed at intimidating the public and neutralizing potential protest organizers.
The Resurgence Network for Human Rights denounces the escalating wave of repression against political opposition in Uganda.
In recent days, security operatives picked up 15 NUP supporters, many from their homes in Lubaga Division. They were charged with the defacement of President Museveni’s posters — despite the fact that Museveni is not a declared candidate and similar acts by regime supporters routinely go unpunished.
“This is yet another display of state-backed injustice,” said a spokesperson for Resurgence Network.
“While regime operatives tear down opposition posters in broad daylight, our people are jailed simply for exercising their constitutional rights.”
The detained individuals remain in Luzira Prison, awaiting mention of their case on July 29, 2025. Many other NUP leaders have gone into hiding after receiving credible threats of arrest and abduction.
“These are not arrests for crimes. These are warnings to the population. The regime is using fear to control citizens ahead of Museveni’s visit to Kampala.”
— Statement from Resurgence Network
This is not an isolated incident. Many NUP leaders are now in hiding after receiving credible threats of abduction and arrest by state operatives. Ironically, while regime-linked agents publicly destroy opposition posters with impunity, opposition supporters are charged for alleged acts against a non-candidate — a disturbing example of Uganda’s entrenched judicial double standards.
