Three people tragically lost their lives and several others were injured in a road accident involving vehicles from the National Unity Platform (NUP) motorcade, Ugandan authorities confirmed.
The accident occurred while the NUP procession travelled to Masaka city for a planned political rally. This incident has led the Ugandan Police Force to temporarily halt all further NUP “consultative activities” until a thorough investigation is concluded.
“The loss of innocent lives was a direct result of reckless driving exceeding the speed limit and disregarding the safety of other road users,” a police statement declared.
However, NUP leader Robert Kyagulanyi, better known by his stage name Bobi Wine, painted a different picture. Wine, a pop star turned politician who challenged President Yoweri Museveni in the 2021 elections, stated that the Masaka rally proceeded despite police attempts to disrupt it, involving the use of tear gas and sound grenades. Images shared on his social media platform showed riot police in full gear amid smoke at the rally, while Wine addressed a large crowd of supporters.
According to the police statement, discussions had been held earlier this week with NUP representatives regarding how the party should conduct their planned meetings. However, authorities allege that the NUP “disregarded the agreed position” and acted “with impunity,” leading to the unfortunate incident in Maya, the location of the crash.
Opposition parties in Uganda have faced increasing restrictions under President Museveni’s long-standing leadership, which began in 1986. This latest development adds another layer of tension in the lead-up to the 2026 elections.