By Alex Baluku
Kawempe, Uganda – February 10, 2025. Tension gripped the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) camp yesterday after one of its grassroots leaders, Esther Kabugho, was arrested by Ugandan police during a leadership training session in Kawempe North. Kabugho, a prominent trainer and political educator within NUP, was picked up by plain-clothed officers on February 9, 2025, while facilitating a session aimed at preparing candidates for the upcoming Kawempe North by-elections and the 2026 general elections.
The training session, presided over by party president Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, drew aspiring NUP leaders and youth mobilizers from across Kampala and Wakiso districts.
Kabugho, had been addressing the topic of “Youth Participation in Ugandan Politics”—a segment in which she reportedly emphasized civic responsibility, leadership inclusion, and the systemic obstacles facing young Ugandans in politics. Witnesses say the training was abruptly disrupted when armed police stormed the venue, forcefully arresting Kabugho and several attendees.
“They accused me of inciting the public against the government. They also claimed I was mobilizing funds from the diaspora just because I had traveled to Canada,” Kabugho told a legal officer before being denied access to her lawyer.
The police allege that Kabugho was inciting unrest and organizing illicit political activities. Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson ASP Luke Owoyesigyire confirmed the arrest but did not provide full details.
“The suspect is being investigated for conduct that threatens public order. We have intelligence reports linking her to foreign funding sources with unclear motives,” Owoyesigyire said in a brief statement.
Eyewitnesses and NUP insiders say Kabugho was beaten during her arrest. She was allegedly dragged from the podium, kicked, and hit with batons, along with two male attendees.
“Esther was not violent; she was just speaking about constitutional rights. Her arrest is purely political,” said Sarah Nakimera, a youth coordinator who was present.
Human rights watchdogs have condemned the arrest. Nicholas Opiyo, a Kampala-based human rights lawyer and founder of Chapter Four Uganda, said the incident reflects a worsening crackdown on dissent.
“This is an outrageous abuse of political rights. Arresting a trainer during a peaceful meeting is nothing short of intimidation. The regime is now criminalizing political education,” Opiyo said.
According to NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya, the arrest is part of a broader attempt to suppress opposition organizing ahead of 2026.
“Esther Kabugho is a patriotic Ugandan offering civic education. Her arrest is illegal, and we demand her unconditional release,” Rubongoya stated at a press conference outside the party headquarters in Kamwokya.
This arrest comes just weeks after the violent dispersal of NUP rallies in Jinja and Masaka, which saw over 50 opposition supporters detained. Observers say these events point to growing tension between state security forces and opposition actors ahead of the 2026 elections.
Kabugho was detained at Kira Road Police Station and later transferred to an undisclosed facility. Her legal team has been denied regular access, and family members say they fear for her safety.
As of now, she remains in detention without formal charges, raising alarm among local and international human rights organizations, some of which have already begun documenting the case for potential international advocacy.
