Uganda police to investigate reports of officers beating opposition supporters

Uganda’s national police said on Monday it would investigate allegations that officers beat Bobi Wine and his supporters during a campaign rally ahead of next month’s election. Wine, 43, said on X that security forces struck him in the face with a cane during Saturday’s event in the northern city of Gulu, adding that several supporters were hospitalised after being beaten.

Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, is viewed as the main challenger to 81-year-old President Yoweri Museveni in the January 15 vote.
Police said reports of officers caning civilians had been received, calling the actions “regrettable, undesirable and unfortunate”. The statement added that any behaviour falling below agreed standards would be investigated and that responsible officers would face action.

Wine’s National Unity Platform alleges that Museveni’s government routinely detains, kidnaps and tortures its members. The government denies this, saying security forces only detain individuals based on legitimate suspicions of criminal activity. Uganda’s electoral commission on Monday urged police to investigate the “confrontations” at the Gulu rally and to exercise restraint.

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