Kampala – Fifteen supporters of the National Unity Platform (NUP) have been further remanded following allegations of vandalising campaign posters of President Museveni. The High Court in Kampala granted the prosecution more time to respond to a defence motion that seeks to have the charges dismissed as legally defective.
The activists—comprised of boda boda riders, welders, and small business operators from Kibumbiro zone in Busega—were arrested on July 14, just ahead of a planned visit by Museveni to parts of Kampala. They are accused of deliberately defacing his posters.
Legal Counsel Haruna Nsibuka argued in court that the charges contravene Section 78(2) of the Presidential Elections Act, which prohibits defacing campaign materials only if the candidate has been officially nominated by the Electoral Commission. Because Museveni has not yet been nominated in the 2026 race, Nsibuka maintains the case is fundamentally flawed.
NUP Secretary General Lewis Rubongoya denounced the arrests as politically motivated.
“These charges are inherently defective. This is just persecution, not prosecution. Our people have spent a long time in detention for simply being NUP supporters,” Rubongoya said.X (formerly Twitter)
The court has set a new hearing date for August 14, 2025, during which the prosecution is expected to formally respond to the defence’s dismissal motion. Meanwhile, the accused will return to Mengo Magistrates Court for a separate bail hearing
🔍 Context & Implications
-
Legal contestation over nomination: The defence’s argument hinges on the legal technicality that campaign poster defacement constitutes an offence only after official nomination—a condition not yet met in Museveni’s case.
-
Political undercurrents: Opposition voices, especially within NUP, see the court proceedings as part of a broader crackdown aimed at suppressing dissent and intimidating party supporters ahead of the 2026 elections.
-
Social impact: The accused individuals, mostly low-income workers, now face prolonged legal limbo, the financial burden of court appearances, and uncertainty about their release.
🎯 What’s Ahead
-
August 14, 2025: When the High Court will consider the defense application to dismiss the charges.
-
Bail proceedings: Scheduled separately in the meantime, potentially offering temporary relief to some defendants.
-
Broader attention: This case adds to growing scrutiny surrounding the independence of Uganda’s justice system in politically sensitive matters.
The unfolding legal battle will test the limits of electoral law interpretation and raise further questions about political tolerance in the months before the general elections.
