Bobi Wine, the opposition presidential candidate in Uganda, says he was physically assaulted by security forces along with his aides and supporters while campaigning in the northern city of Gulu, an alarming escalation in violence just weeks ahead of the January 2026 election.
According to his posts on social media, Wine was hit in the face with a cane. He added that several supporters were hospitalized after being beaten with sticks and stones. Campaign materials were destroyed, and a video he shared appears to show uniformed security personnel violently dispersing the crowd. The official response has been predictable. The military spokesman, Chris Magezi, defended the intervention, alleging that Wine’s team held an illegal procession and violated campaign time limits. A police spokesperson could not be reached for comment. The backlash has not stayed local. The United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR) has condemned the incident as part of an “intensifying crackdown” on opposition groups. According to OHCHR, at least 550 supporters of Wine’s party have been detained in 2025 alone raising serious concerns about the fairness and safety of the upcoming electoral process. The episode signals a dangerous trend: as Uganda’s election draws near, political competition appears increasingly fraught with violence and repression emerging as potent tools of power.
