Uganda opposition says computers, cash stolen in police raid

Uganda's main opposition party said Monday that security forces raided its party headquarters over the weekend, stealing documents, computers and cash, while planting spy cameras and listening devices.

The National Unity Platform (NUP), led by musician-turned-politician Bobi Wine, has been a frequent target of security forces in recent years.

The latest raid at its headquarters in Kampala comes as the country prepares for a presidential election in January 2026, when President Yoweri Museveni will seek to extend his 40-year rule.

"The police and the military stole 15 laptops, 10 CPS (central processing units) and one main computer, dismantled our surveillance cameras and planted their own spy cameras and listening devices in my office and all other offices," Wine told AFP.

"Shamelessly, they took away 250 textbooks from our library, over 2,500 party membership cards and over 400-plus shirts branded with my image, cups and umbrellas," he said, adding that $12,000 in cash was also taken.

Wine, real name Robert Kyagulanyi, said five party officials, including his elder brother, had also been briefly detained in recent days without charge.

"When they abducted the party officials, luckily we had installed trackers in the cars and we managed to locate the vehicles in which the officials were travelling in and we (found) them at police headquarters and the military intelligence (headquarters)," he said.

The police and military did not respond to requests for comment on the arrests from AFP.

But police confirmed Saturday's raid on the NUP offices. In a statement, they said it was conducted due to "unauthorised military drills" at the premises.

This was an apparent reference to a parade by NUP members last week. The authorities have complained the party's trademark red tunics and berets look like military uniforms.