12 NUP Mobilisers Detained in Kitgum for Illegal Assembly

Kitgum, Uganda – Tension is rising in Northern Uganda as 12 members of the National Unity Platform (NUP) continue to suffer in detention at Kitgum Central Police Station, days after they were arrested for allegedly holding an unlawful assembly.

The group, led by Ocaya Charles, a prominent NUP mobiliser in the region, was picked up from a hotel in Kitgum on May 27, 2025, where they were reportedly meeting to plan for the upcoming visit of NUP President, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, commonly known as Bobi Wine.

A hand-written list circulating online, verified by multiple NUP officials, identifies the detained individuals as Ocaya Charles, Opira Raphael, Opova Bosco, Tibi Amos, Oluma Joseph, Obuk Everest, Olara James, Oguwang Thomas, Nyeroe Alfred Ochola, Lubangakene Innocent, Oketa Deng, and Akello Jane

David Lewis Rubongoya, NUP’s Secretary General, expressed outrage in a viral post on X (formerly Twitter), stating the group was arrested not for any crime, but for organizing NUP activities in preparation for Bobi Wine’s visit to the district.

“Since Wednesday last week, these comrades have been held without charge. Police say they are consulting ‘above’, a clear sign of political interference,” Rubongoya wrote.

“Their only crime is being loyal to the People Power cause.”

Despite Article 23(4) of Uganda’s Constitution clearly stating that no person should be detained beyond 48 hours without appearing before a court, these 12 individuals have reportedly been held well past the constitutional limit, with no formal charges brought against them beyond claims of organizing an illegal meeting.

NUP legal teams say they’ve been blocked from accessing the suspects, and officers at the station continue to defer responsibility by citing consultations with unnamed superiors.

This is not the first time that opposition leaders and supporters have faced harassment in Northern Uganda, an area where the NRM’s political dominance has long been unchallenged.

NUP insiders allege a coordinated effort to frustrate their mobilisation efforts in the region by disrupting grassroots structures and criminalizing routine party activities.

“This crackdown is not just on the 12 comrades, it’s a message to all opposition voices in Kitgum and beyond.”

The arrests have ignited an outpouring of anger online, with the hashtag #FreeUganda trending across platforms. Youth groups, civil rights advocates, and even religious leaders have started demanding the unconditional release of the detainees.

In a country where political repression has become normalized, the case of the Kitgum 12 highlights the ever-tightening grip on dissent and the high personal cost of engaging in opposition politics.

As of today, there is no indication of when the detained NUP members will be arraigned before the court. Calls to Kitgum District Police Commander went unanswered, and Uganda Police spokespersons have yet to issue an official statement on the matter.

Meanwhile, preparations for Bobi Wine’s anticipated visit to Northern Uganda remain uncertain, raising concerns about further arrests or suppression of opposition events in the coming days.

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