Police in Bulenga have taken into custody a 25-year-old man, Deo Kabira, following an incident in which a police truck was damaged during security operations. The arrest comes amid heightened political activity and growing friction between law enforcement and opposition supporters in the Kampala Metropolitan area.
According to police, the incident occurred on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at Lufula in Nakabugo Parish. Officers were deployed to manage crowds as National Unity Platform presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, widely known as Bobi Wine, was traveling to a campaign engagement in Ssentema.
Kampala Metropolitan Deputy Police Spokesperson ASP Luke Owoyesigyire stated that Kabira allegedly hurled stones at a police vehicle, shattering its windscreen. He said the act amounted to malicious damage of government property, prompting officers to arrest the suspect and place him in custody as investigations continue.
This arrest is not an isolated case. Police have pointed out that similar incidents have occurred during previous opposition campaign activities. Shortly after the official launch of presidential campaigns in October 2025, officers conducted an operation at a hotel in Lira City where Bobi Wine and his team were staying, resulting in the arrest of 15 campaign members.
At the time, authorities said the arrests followed reports of property damage and robbery along the Lira–Alebtong highway. Investigators alleged that a group of opposition supporters ambushed a surveillance vehicle from the Criminal Investigations Directorate, with Geoffrey Unzima, also known as Tower, named as a key suspect in that case.
Law enforcement agencies have consistently accused some NUP supporters of provoking confrontations during rallies and processions. Police argue that such actions complicate crowd control efforts and pose risks to public safety, especially during the heated campaign season.
Opposition leaders, however, strongly dispute these claims. Bobi Wine has repeatedly called on his supporters to remain calm and law-abiding, while party officials insist that many arrests stem from provocation or excessive force by security personnel rather than criminal behavior by their followers.
In a separate incident elsewhere in the city, police in Katwe are holding a 57-year-old woman, Nakanwagi Gladys Rebecca, over an alleged assault on a 65-year-old resident, Namutebi Mariam. Police say the suspect attacked the elderly woman and tore her clothing during a confrontation in Kavule Zone, with the case now awaiting legal guidance from the Resident State Attorney as investigations proceed.
