House Arrest Without Orders? ULS Slams Security Over Bobi Wine Standoff

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Tension continued to simmer in Uganda’s political landscape on Tuesday amid growing concern from civil society over the conduct of state security agencies.

Reports of heightened security deployments around the residence of a prominent political figure sparked fresh debate about the state of constitutionalism and the rule of law in the country.

The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has now strongly condemned what it termed as alleged invasion and barricading of Kyagulanyi’s home.

In a statement released to the media, the lawyers’ body accused security forces of effectively placing the opposition politician and his family under house arrest without a court order or any legal justification.

ULS argued that such actions, if confirmed, amount to a gross violation of fundamental rights enshrined in Uganda’s Constitution, including the right to personal liberty, freedom of movement, privacy, and protection from arbitrary detention.

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The society warned that normalising such practices undermines the rule of law and sets a dangerous precedent for the treatment of political opponents.

“The use of security agencies to unlawfully restrict the movement of citizens, especially political actors, is unconstitutional and unacceptable in a democratic society,” the statement read, calling on authorities to immediately lift the alleged siege.

Bobi Wine, a former presidential candidate and leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP), has in the past accused the state of harassment, intimidation, and repeated house arrests, particularly during election periods and times of heightened political activity.

ULS urged security agencies to operate strictly within the confines of the law and reminded the government of its obligation to respect court processes. The society also called on Parliament and other oversight bodies to investigate the incident and hold those responsible to account, warning that silence could erode public trust in state institutions.