Fort Portal City descended into a cloud of teargas and gunfire on Tuesday afternoon. This occurred after security forces blocked National Unity Platform (NUP) president and presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine) from entering the city, where he was scheduled to hold his second rally of the day.
Kyagulanyi’s planned rally in Bunyangabu District had earlier been blocked under similar circumstances. This raised fresh concerns about political freedoms and the integrity of the campaign environment ahead of next year’s election.
According to eyewitnesses, the security operation intensified rapidly as crowds began to gather in anticipation of Bobi Wine’s arrival.
“Fort Portal City is on fire… bullets after bullets, teargas, rubber bullets and pepper spray,” one witness reported as security forces sought to disperse supporters.
The heavy deployment brought business to a standstill. Shops were hurriedly closed, and residents took cover from the escalating confrontation.
Held for Hours on the Road
Kyagulanyi, speaking from the campaign trail, confirmed that his team had been immobilised for nearly two hours at a roadblock. This occurred just minutes away from their rally venue in Kabarole District.
“Nearly two hours later, we are still held in the middle of the road, just ten minutes away from our rally venue in Kabarole,” he said in a statement to journalists.
“The criminal regime police insists that we use an alternative, rural route which would delay us by several hours.”
The opposition leader revealed that the team had already encountered multiple blockades on the way to Bunyangabu District. These actions completely crippled their ability to address supporters earlier in the day.
“We had already encountered numerous similar blockades on our journey to Bunyangabu District which made it impossible for us to campaign there,” Kyagulanyi added.
With campaign hours ticking down, he said the constant obstruction was denying voters their constitutional right to engage with candidates.
“We’re just a few minutes to the end of the allowed campaign time,” Kyagulanyi noted, accusing security forces of deliberate interference.
A Pattern of Blockades
NUP officials allege that the government’s strategy has shifted from dispersing rallies to preventing them altogether. They use advance blockades, diversions, and prolonged detentions at roadside checkpoints.
Several districts in Western Uganda have witnessed similar standoffs in recent weeks. Security forces cite “public order” and “safety concerns” for restricting opposition activity.
Human rights observers warn that such confrontations could escalate as candidates intensify their campaigns across the country.
Fort Portal City Residents Caught in the Crossfire
Residents described scenes of panic as security forces fired live bullets in the air, rubber bullets, and heavy volleys of teargas. Motorists abandoned their vehicles. Pedestrians fled into side streets as police and military patrol trucks sealed off key access routes.
Local leaders appealed for calm but also criticised what they described as excessive force.
Uncertain Path Ahead
As dusk approached, it remained unclear whether Kyagulanyi would be allowed to proceed to Kabarole or whether the rally was effectively cancelled. Supporters continued to gather in pockets around the city, defying the security lockdown.
The NUP leader vowed to continue his campaign despite the disruptions. He said Uganda’s political future could not be dictated by fear.
