Joint security forces on Thursday sealed off the National Unity Platform (NUP) offices in Hoima city allegedly over a planned procession.
The operation, which started around 9 a.m., involved both the Uganda Police Force and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF). Roadblocks were set up on all major routes leading to the party offices located in Lusaka Middle Cell, Hoima East Division.
According to Habib Buwembo, NUP’s chief mobiliser, party members were caught off guard when security personnel surrounded the offices and ordered everyone to vacate the premises.
He said they had convened for a brief meeting with supporters, candidates, and flag bearers to discuss the party’s regional progress when security suddenly stormed in. He called the actions of the security as an attempt to intimidate and frustrate the party organizational work.
Julius Hakiza, Albertine Region police spokesperson, confirmed the deployment, saying it followed intelligence indicating that NUP supporters were mobilising to hold an unauthorized procession in the city.
He said no political procession can be allowed in the city centre without prior communication and clearance from the police. He described the raid as “normal”, aimed at maintaining law and order.
Thursday’s raid is not the first such incident targeting opposition offices in Hoima. In September, police also sealed off the offices of the National Economic Empowerment Dialogue (NEED) party in Kijungu Cell, Hoima East Division, ahead of a planned launch of the party’s Bunyoro regional offices.
Then, anti-riot police blocked NEED president Joseph Kabuleta from leading a procession through the city to Kibanjwa trading centre in Kitoba sub-county, where he was expected to address supporters.
The repeated disruptions underscore the growing tension between opposition parties and security agencies ahead of the 2026 general elections, with the opposition accusing the state of political suppression, an allegation the authorities deny.
About the Author
