Uganda: 13 NUP supporters remanded after arrest

Thirteen supporters of the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) have been remanded until August 28 following their arrest while traveling from Kampala to Luwero for a burial ceremony. The group was intercepted in Kawempe, where police allegedly found them wearing party colors and carrying a NUP flag.

The accused face charges of being a nuisance and allegedly handling the national flag in a “careless and degrading way.” NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya condemned the arrests, alleging that the government is “manufacturing cases to ensure a constant presence of political prisoners” and claiming the detainees were denied the opportunity to apply for bail.

The incident occurs amid rising tensions between opposition supporters and security agencies as Uganda approaches the 2026 elections. The NUP has frequently accused security forces of targeting its members based on political affiliation.