The Ugandan Police have appealed to the public to remain calm and go about their normal business amid tensions and reported insecurity following the presidential election held on Thursday, January 15, 2026.

Speaking to the national broadcaster on Saturday, January 17, 2026, police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke downplayed fears of widespread tension and insecurity.

This came after reports of arrests and deaths emerged on Friday, the day after polling. Rusoke issued a strong caution against any individuals seeking to engage in violent protests, warning that such actions would be met with necessary force. Instead, he urged the public to follow established legal procedures for any complaints about the election.

Not cause for worry

“No one should fear going about their normal business. It is only lawbreakers who need to think twice or worry. You cannot cause chaos and then start complaining about the outcome of your actions,” he stated.

“I will tell the public to do their business in accordance with the law, and if you have any issues or challenges, whatever you want to challenge, you have to do so through legal and lawful channels,” he added.

His remarks follow his earlier dismissal of abduction claims made by the country’s opposition leader, Robert Kyagulanyi, famously known as Bobi Wine. Wine’s National Unity Platform (NUP) party reported that he was abducted from his Magere residence during a late-night operation involving a military helicopter on Friday, January 16, 2026.

Rusoke, however, denied any involvement in Wine’s alleged abduction, insisting the opposition leader remained at his home and urging the public to disregard such claims unless credible evidence was presented.

Wine abduction claims

Rusoke further added that Bobi Wine’s remarks are deceitful and meant to depict the Ugandan Police Forces as violators of the rights of political candidates.

”The allegations are being made that Mr Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, who is a presidential candidate, has been arrested and taken to an unknown location. Some of these allegations are being paraded by his family members. What I would like to say is that these are deceitful and insightful allegations intended to depict the security agencies of Uganda as brutal and violators of the rights of a political candidate. They are untrue and unfounded,” the spokesperson said.

Nonetheless, Bobi Wine issued a separate statement stating that he managed to escape after police raided his home.