Police in Uganda have arrested Muwanga Kivumbi, a member of Parliament and prominent ally of opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, in connection with the unrest that followed last week’s disputed presidential election. Kivumbi serves as deputy president of the National Unity Platform (NUP) and is expected to face charges related to violence in his constituency.
The arrests occurred in Butambala County, west of Kampala, where security forces said clashes broke out between police and supporters in the aftermath of Uganda’s January 15 vote. Authorities reported that seven people were killed during confrontations linked to alleged attacks on a police station and a vote-tallying centre, although Kivumbi and opposition sources contest parts of that narrative.
Kivumbi’s arrest is part of wider tensions that have gripped Uganda since the election, which incumbent President Yoweri Museveni officially won with about 71.6 percent of the vote, while Bobi Wine claimed a significant share of the electorate and rejected the results as illegitimate. The campaign was marred by security incidents, internet shutdowns and delays in voting due to technical issues, setting the stage for heightened distrust and clashes between supporters and security forces.
Although police have publicly stated that Bobi Wine himself is not wanted, his decision to go into hiding after security operatives raided his home has underscored the fraught post-election environment. The opposition insists that the election was not free and fair and that arrests of its members are politically motivated.
The situation reflects ongoing political instability as Uganda enters a new presidential term under Museveni, who has held power since 1986. Observers have expressed concern about the treatment of opposition figures and the broader implications for democratic processes in the East African nation.
