Opposition leaders in Mbale City have strongly condemned police for tearing down Bobi Wine campaign posters Mbale supporters displayed during a celebration. The incident happened on Republic Street on Wednesday. NUP supporters marched peacefully to mark Robert Kyagulanyi’s official nomination as a 2026 presidential candidate.
A viral video shows officers ripping down Kyagulanyi’s poster. Moments later, they fired tear gas and live bullets to scatter the crowd. Police say no one got hurt. But witnesses insist the response was unprovoked and excessive.
Akim Wantenyeri, UPC’s National Vice Chairperson for Eastern Region, called the act “barbaric and undemocratic.” He added, “This shows Uganda lacks professional police. We have partisan officers who serve political interests.”
Peter Makoko, known as “Poker,” leads NUP youth in Mbale. He appears in the video trying to stop an officer from destroying the poster. “Police must hold unprofessional officers accountable,” he said. “Instead of keeping order, they created chaos and then blamed NUP supporters.”
The group marched peacefully with placards and posters. Makoko explained they had just picked up the billboard from Mbale’s industrial area. They planned to take it to the party office on Pallisa Road so supporters could sign it in endorsement.
“I personally collected that poster,” Makoko said. “When we reached Pallisa Road, I asked a few members to help push it. That’s when a patrol vehicle pulled up with four officers.”
He continued, “They walked straight to the poster and started tearing it. When we confronted them, one pulled a pistol and shot at us. His colleagues threw tear gas canisters.”
Kyagulanyi is one of eight candidates the Electoral Commission cleared for the 2026 race. Others include President Yoweri Museveni. The NUP procession aimed only to celebrate this milestone—not provoke conflict.
Elgon Region Police Commander Samuel Asiimwe later condemned the officers’ actions. “We are investigating why they used tear gas on NUP supporters,” he said. He promised to take action based on findings and improve police conduct during public events.
However, EC spokesperson Julius Mucunguzi refused to take responsibility. “We don’t manage posters,” he stated. “Talk to the police. The EC runs elections.”
Police issued a statement on September 25 confirming they launched an investigation. They said they will take appropriate action if they find misconduct.
Opposition leaders see a troubling pattern. They argue that targeting Bobi Wine campaign posters Mbale is part of a wider effort to silence dissent. Destroying campaign materials, they say, violates freedom of expression and fair electoral competition.
As Uganda moves closer to the 2026 polls, such incidents raise serious concerns about political space. Activists urge authorities to protect—not punish—citizens who exercise their democratic rights. Until then, the torn posters in Mbale stand as a symbol of tension between state power and public voice.
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