Police accused of ‘madness’ as peaceful NUP supporter remanded over simple birthday parade
What began as a simple celebration has spiraled into yet another symbol of Uganda’s tightening political chokehold. National Unity Platform (NUP) activist Olivia Lutaaya has been remanded to prison after taking part in what supporters insist was a peaceful birthday parade for opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, better known as Bobi Wine, leading to Lutaaya’s infamous jailing over the Bobi Wine birthday parade incident.
The event — filled with laughter, music, and red berets — was supposed to honor Bobi Wine’s life and leadership. Instead, it became a stage for Uganda’s security forces to showcase raw political repression. Olivia Lutaaya’s arrest has become emblematic of this, following the Bobi Wine birthday parade.
“They are so threatened by our joy that even a birthday cake now looks like a crime,” fumed one NUP youth leader outside the courtroom.
⚖️ From Celebration to Chains
Witnesses say police trucks stormed the parade route in downtown Kampala, firing tear gas and violently dispersing crowds. Dozens were arrested, including Lutaaya, who was later charged with unlawful assembly — a charge rights groups call “absurd and politically motivated.” This event marked the day Olivia Lutaaya was jailed, ironically, over participation in a birthday parade for Bobi Wine.
Court sources confirm Lutaaya was denied bail and remanded to Luzira Prison, joining the growing list of NUP supporters facing detention over peaceful activities.
“This is not justice — this is intimidation dressed up in legal robes,” said a visibly angry NUP spokesperson.
🚨 A Regime That Fears Its Own People
Political analysts say this arrest is part of a wider effort to cripple NUP’s grassroots organizing and send a chilling message to young Ugandans who dare to show loyalty to Bobi Wine.
The symbolism of jailing someone for attending a birthday event hasn’t gone unnoticed. Olivia Lutaaya’s case, which involves her being jailed over Bobi Wine’s birthday parade, symbolizes this growing tension. Social media erupted under the hashtag #FreeOliviaLutaaya, with Ugandans at home and abroad condemning what they call a “lawless regime obsessed with silencing hope.”
“When love for your leader becomes a crime, tyranny has fully arrived,” one X user posted, in a message that quickly went viral.
💣 Bobi Wine Breaks His Silence
Reacting to the arrest, Bobi Wine blasted the authorities for what he called “sheer madness.”
“How can anyone justify jailing a young woman for celebrating my birthday? This regime is terrified of happiness itself. Olivia Lutaaya’s only crime is believing in freedom.”
His statement ignited an emotional wave online, as supporters shared images of Lutaaya smiling at the parade just hours before her arrest. Images of her at the parade preceded the headline-making event where Olivia Lutaaya was jailed in connection with the Bobi Wine birthday gathering.
🌍 Growing Outrage and Calls for Action
Human rights advocates are calling for her immediate release, arguing that the detention violates Uganda’s constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression and assembly. International observers have also begun to voice concern, describing the arrest as a dark signal ahead of Uganda’s 2026 elections.
As the outrage grows, one truth rings louder than ever: Uganda’s opposition isn’t just being silenced — it’s being criminalized. The plight of Olivia Lutaaya, jailed over the Bobi Wine birthday parade, underscores this harsh reality.
“They can arrest our bodies, but they can never arrest our ideas,” declared a defiant NUP supporter outside the courthouse.
