Mbarara Chaos: 89 nabbed NUP Supporters Transferred to Unknown Location
Supporters of the National Unity Platform (NUP) who were arrested in Mbarara District have been transferred from Mbarara Central Police Station to an unknown destination, Daily Star has learned.
According to sources, 89 NUP supporters were detained last Friday as party president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, alias Bobi Wine, traveled to Bwizibwera in Mbarara to canvass support ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Relatives and friends of the detained individuals were reportedly blocked from accessing them on Monday.
Joshua Tumukunde, the NUP Legal Head for Western Uganda, said he had been denied access to the suspects despite official instructions to check on them and apply for bail.
“I have full instructions to go and check on all the NUP suspects and apply for their bail, but I have been denied access. The District Police Commander said I would be allowed after a one-hour meeting,” Tumukunde told Daily Star.
Eron Kiiza, a human rights lawyer, has called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Abas Byakagaba, to intervene and allow legal representatives to meet their clients detained at Mbarara Central Police Station (CPS).
He said police should lead by example by respecting detainees’ constitutional rights under Article 23(5)(a) and (b), which guarantee reasonable access to their lawyers and relatives.
“We urge the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) to urgently intervene and direct Mbarara CPS officers to respect the rights of suspects, their lawyers, and relatives to interact and to comply with the 48-hour detention limit under Article 23(4) of the Constitution,” Kiiza said.
Police is yet to release a statement but the suspects are excepted to be charged before Lira Magistrates Court.
