Bobi Wine hails united voices against electoral violence
By Luke Oluoch, December 12, 2025Ugandan opposition leader Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine has lauded the emergence of human and community groups condemning acts of violence orchestrated by the government and the local leaders of the National Resistance Movement (NRM).
Taking to his X page on Friday, December 12, Bobi Wine lauded the voices against the deepening political tension as crucial to restoring normalcy and sanity to the campaign process and the coming polls slated for January 2026.
Deeping election tensions
Incidences of violent protests and crackdowns on opposition politicians during campaigns across the country have marred the anticipated elections in the landlocked East African country that has been under the NRM rule for over three decades now.
“Delighted to see more moral voices speaking out against violence and impunity – this time, esteemed elders from the Acholi subregion. Apwoyo matek! Importantly, they reiterate our call to Mr. Byabakama (and the Electoral Commission) to take charge of the electoral process, which has been hijacked by the military and police, or resign,” his statement read.
In a statement dated Thursday, December 11, 2025, the Acholi leaders condemned the acts of violence and barbarism meted out on National Unity Platform (NUP) leaders during a past campaign.
The council urged the government security agents and the country’s electoral commission to move with speed and put an end to the violence.
“These criminal and cowardly acts were allegedly masterminded by the local leaders of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), who instrumentalised the Yellow Boda-Boda, the delinquent children locally known as “Aguu” and other goons to inflict harm on innocent citizens,” part of their statement read.
“The people of Acholi and their leaders condemn in the strongest terms possible these premeditated acts of violence committed by organised criminals and some members of the security agencies.
“The Acholi are a peace-loving and tolerant people who are slowly recovering from a long period of armed conflict, whose consequences have and continue to undermine the development of the sub-region. We, therefore, detest all forms of violence, planned and orchestrated by whomsoever, part of their statement read.
The Acholi community concerns follow those of human rights organisations, who similarly sounded the alarm over escalating military involvement in the country’s political process.
In a statement on Sunday, December 7, 2025, Human Rights Defenders Uganda said it was deeply concerned about what it described as a pattern of illegal and deadly military interference in political activities across the country.
The organisation noted that the involvement of senior military officials publicly campaigning for the status quo and using lethal force against peace- and stability-seeking citizens was an affront to democracy and regional security.
The concerns emanated from a weekend of tension in Gulu, where an entourage of Bobi Wine was violently attacked by armed police officers and military personnel during a campaign rally.