Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine has made serious accusations against security forces, claiming they violently attacked him and his supporters during a campaign rally in Gulu, in the north of the country (about 330 km from Kampala). The incident, which occurred on Saturday, December 6, 2025, reportedly left several people injured, six of whom were hospitalized.

Tense electoral context

These allegations come as Uganda prepares for general elections in January. The main contest will pit the incumbent president, Yoweri Museveni , 81, who is seeking another term after 40 years in power, against Bobi Wine (stage name of Robert Kyagulanyi).

Bobi Wine, 43, a popular singer, has become the face of the opposition and enjoys widespread support, particularly among young people. He had already been defeated by Mr. Museveni in the 2021 presidential election, a campaign marred by severe repression.

Account of the attack

Describing the event as "systematic" , Bobi Wine told AFP that soldiers and police officers had "beaten everyone around me" and that he was "targeted as a presidential candidate" .

The opposition leader claimed he was punched in the face and only escaped serious injury or death thanks to his supporters who surrounded him. He reported that 18 of his followers were injured, six of whom required hospitalization.

A video, posted on his X account, appears to corroborate these accusations, showing armed members of the security forces attacking activists with sticks. Footage also shows a man bleeding from the head.

History of repression

Neither the police nor the army immediately responded to the latest accusations. However, the tension is palpable. In late November, one person was killed and three others injured by police at a previous Bobi Wine rally, during which he accused law enforcement of using live ammunition.

On that occasion, the police justified their response by claiming that their officers had been pelted with stones by the activists. The authorities warned that attacking "armed police officers carries serious risks" and "will lead to a determined response."

These incidents are part of a recurring pattern of repression. Bobi Wine has been arrested or placed under house arrest several times in recent years, and his rallies are regularly dispersed, often violently. The army chief of staff, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba , the eldest son of President Museveni, has even publicly threatened to "behead" the opposition leader on social media.

For his part, President Museveni is focusing his campaign on the need to "protect the gains" of his decades at the head of the country.