Entebbe, Uganda – Aviation police in Entebbe on Monday morning arrested several members of the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) over allegations of holding an illegal political meeting.
Individuals arrested include Lillian Babirye, Stuart Lubwama, and Robert Masazi, all of whom are aspiring Members of Parliament, as well as Tadeo Kibirige, an aspiring division councillor.
The meeting was reportedly held at the private residence of one of their colleagues.
According to Uganda Police, the gathering violated public order management laws, though NUP insists it was a routine internal strategy session ahead of the 2026 general elections.
“Our members were arrested for meeting inside a home. Not in the streets. Not in a stadium. But inside someone’s living room,” a NUP official told this publication, calling the arrests “a direct attack on constitutional freedoms.”
This incident adds to the growing list of confrontations between the state and the Bobi Wine-led NUP party. With less than a year to Uganda’s next general elections, tensions between the ruling government and opposition factions continue to rise.
Eyewitnesses in Entebbe report a sudden swoop by aviation police officers, who surrounded the residence and whisked the politicians away in patrol vehicles, leaving residents in shock.
“It felt like a military raid, not a law enforcement action. “They were not causing any chaos. They were just discussing their plans.”
This arrest comes just a day after NUP President Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine) accused the government of criminalising the opposition, labelling NUP a terrorist group in a controversial statement aired on Busoga One Radio.
Political observers say these back-to-back developments reflect growing anxiety within the ruling regime as it faces an energised opposition movement with increasing grassroots support, especially among the youth.
Legal experts have raised questions about the legality of arresting individuals for convening in a private residence. Uganda’s Constitution guarantees freedom of assembly and association, although authorities often cite the Public Order Management Act (POMA) to justify disruptions of opposition gatherings.
All four have been active in recent NUP mobilization campaigns, aiming to build structures across key regions ahead of the 2026 elections.
The detainees were still being held at the Entebbe aviation police facility. Their lawyers, backed by senior NUP leaders, have demanded an immediate and unconditional release, promising to challenge the arrests in court.
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