Bobi Wine temporarily stops campaign to pitch vision for police amid standoff
By Luke Oluoch, December 21, 2025A dramatic scene unfolded on Saturday, December 20, 2025, as Ugandan opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, better known as Bobi Wine, temporarily halted his campaign to directly address law enforcement officers who had blocked his convoy’s passage toward Bukedea District.
The opposition leader implored the heavy contingent of police officers to uphold law and order and reject orders that violate the country’s constitution.
“To you, the police officers: I am sure that when you pass out as officers, you swear to maintain law and order and to protect people and property. But you are being used to intimidate people,” Wine told the line of officers positioned beside his entourage.
Amid heavy police presence in every area where the National Unity Platform has campaigned across the landlocked country, Bobi Wine reminded the officers to remember their duty to protect the citizens they swore to serve.
Liberating the police
“I want you to know that there is a plan for you as well. Every institution has been captured, the military and the police. We want to liberate the police so that you can live in dignity. We are not at war. Uganda is a peaceful country, and you are supposed to be a national police force that is friendly with the citizens. You are not supposed to be feared by the citizens.”
He went on to criticise President Yoweri Museveni for neglecting the welfare of uniformed personnel, prioritising the acquisition of guns for the police over improving their poor living conditions.
“You saw Museveni on TV saying he does not care about your conditions—that even if you live in grass-thatched houses, as long as he buys guns. After 40 years, you are supposed to be living in better conditions and be friendly with the citizens as a national police force. Museveni is the enemy of Uganda because he doesn’t love or care about you. You are young people and deserve better pay and dignity,” he added.
The landlocked East African country heads to the polls on January 15, with Wine seeking to end Museveni’s three-decade-long rule.