Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) President Eng. Patrick Oboi Amuriat alongside Members of Parliament Hon. Alobo Joan, Hon. Jonathan Ebwaru and other party leaders, have been arrested today and forcibly taken away by security forces in Soroti City.
Their whereabouts remain unknown and no official explanation has been given for their arrest.
The shocking development has triggered a wave of outrage with accusations of state-sponsored intimidation, political persecution and escalating arrests on opposition figures.
According to witnesses, heavily armed security forces jumped in on the FDC leaders as they were preparing to launch the “No Cows, No Votes” campaign before being intercepted in Soroti.
Without warning, they were bundled into unmarked vehicles and driven away to an undisclosed location.
Attempts by their supporters to follow were blocked by police creating a tense and chaotic scene in the city center.
The arrests have sent shockwaves through Uganda’s opposition circles with many describing it as an outright attack on democracy and political pluralism.
The government has not provided any justification for the arrests. No official charges have been announced and efforts by lawyers and family members to locate the detained leaders have so far been unsuccessful.
“This is unacceptable. You cannot just abduct opposition leaders in broad daylight and take them to unknown locations like criminals. This is a clear attempt to silence dissent,” said an FDC party official in response to the arrests.
This latest incident adds to Uganda’s growing list of politically motivated detentions where opposition figures are often arrested, held without charge and subjected to harsh treatment before eventually being released without explanation.
The arrest of Amuriat and his colleagues fits into a larger trend of government crackdowns on opposition figures ahead of Uganda’s 2026 elections.
Just recently, NUP supporters in Kawempe North were violently arrested while Dr. Kizza Besigye continues to battle treason charges.
Analysts argue that these arrests are part of a broader strategy to weaken opposition parties, intimidate political activists and ensure a controlled political landscape leading into the elections.
With no information on the detained leaders’ whereabouts, the situation in Soroti remains tense. FDC officials have vowed to fight for their release and the opposition is mobilizing for legal action.
