10 NUP supporters fail to present sureties, remanded over robbery, Police car damage

LIRA - Ten supporters of the National Unity Platform (NUP) have been remanded to Lira Main Prison on charges of robbery and malicious damage to property arising from a violent incident on the campaign trail earlier this week.

Appearing before senior principal magistrate Jane Tibagonzeka of the Chief Magistrates Court in Lira, the suspects: Precious Paul Ssembusi, Ismail Bukenya, Liberty Lokoro, Mastura Nakabuye, Raston Waiswa, Hope Nasozi, Kagwa Saliman, Regan Kamulegeya, Stephen Katamba, and Alison Lubega, denied the charges.

Meanwhile, the Court Prosecutor informed the court that other suspects are still at large pending arrest, praying for the adjustment of the matter.

‎‎The Magistrate asked if the suspects have sureties for bail; however, none of them presented. However, former Oyam South Member of Parliament Isaa Otto Amiza presented himself as a surety for all the suspects, but the court declined since he did not have enough documents prepared to submit as part of the bail application.

‎Magistrate Tibagonzeka asked if any lawyer was in court to advocate for the suspects, but Isaa Otto said their lawyer was in the office of the Chief State Attorney and couldn't be with them in court.

‎The Magistrate adjourned the matter and advised the suspects to arrange their suerities with papers and present them in court for consideration on November 12, 2025. As a result, they were remanded until November 12, 2025, when the case will come up for bail application.

Prosecution alleges that on October 28, 2025, on the Lira-Alebtong Highway at Obot Village, Bar sub-county, the accused persons, allegedly part of a group of NUP supporters, attacked a Police surveillance vehicle operating under a cover registration UBK 380Q, robbed its occupants of a Dell laptop, a bag of clothes, and 20 litres of diesel, all valued at shillings 1.89 million and vandalized the vehicle.

The alleged victims include Police officers Julius Isabirye and Peter Muhindo, who were monitoring NUP campaign movements in the area.

We shall not tolerate campaign violence

The Police, in a statement released on October 29, 2025, condemned what it described as “a troubling rise in aggression” from certain groups of political supporters, warning that law enforcement would act firmly against acts of violence or provocation.

“The campaign trail for presidential candidates has generally been peaceful, but certain individuals have developed a troubling habit of provoking the Police with increasing levels of aggression that have now become intolerable.”

According to North Kyoga Police regional spokesperson Jimmy Patrick Okema, the group ambushed the Police surveillance vehicle trailing NUP presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine and vandalised it under the false claim that it carried a signal jammer disrupting their communication.

NUP supporters in the dock charged with malicious damage to property and robbery. They were remanded to Lira Main Prison till November 12, when they will reappear in court. (Credit: Hudson Apunyo)

“They punctured the tyres with sharp metal objects, confiscated the car key chip sensor, and stole two 20-litre jerrycans of diesel, a bag of clothes and a laptop,” Police said.

Police stated that the group’s actions were part of a pattern of “conflict entrepreneurship” observed in several districts during the ongoing campaign period. A green Toyota Hiace drone, registration UA 933AU, was impounded and investigations are ongoing to recover the stolen items and identify additional suspects.

The statement also cited earlier assaults on officers during NUP rallies in the districts of Mayuge, Kyankwanzi, Kakumiro and Busia, where Police vehicles were damaged and officers injured while attempting to maintain order.

“We shall not issue blanket condemnations because many participants conduct themselves peacefully and respectfully,” the statement continued. “But we will go for those who have turned confrontation and violence into a habit.”

Peaceful campaigns

Before the arrests, Robert Kyagulanyi had told journalists in Lira City that his campaigns had been largely peaceful compared to previous election seasons, though not without challenges.

“I cannot say it has been entirely smooth because a few times we’ve had roads blocked and been diverted to long routes, reaching our venues late,” Kyagulanyi said.

 “But as we’ve all seen, it has been way less violent. We have not lost anybody. The police have not shot or tear-gassed our people yet.”

He praised his supporters for maintaining discipline and thanked the Police for exercising restraint.

“We thank God, and we pray that the Holy Spirit that has touched the Police continues touching them,” he said.  

The NUP leader, who is traversing the country ahead of the 2026 General Election, called for continued calm, urging both supporters and law enforcement to coexist peacefully.