Kampala, Uganda — The Uganda Police Force has dismissed allegations from the National Unity Platform (NUP) that presidential candidate Bobi Wine has faced deliberate road obstructions and excessively long detours during his campaign.
On Monday, Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke stated that all roads designated for campaign use are navigable.
“All roads in Uganda are motorable to some extent, at least,” Rusoke said, defending the prescribed campaign routes.
Police Response to Road Complaints
Rusoke argued that the focus of any campaign should be the rally venues, not the condition or length of the roads used to get there.
“Why would you complain about the road taking you to the ground, if you are going to reach that ground?” he added, suggesting any perceived issues arise from lack of cooperation between campaign teams and security personnel.
He confirmed that the routes provided to candidates are the same routes used by Police vehicles and insisted there have been no complaints about roads being impassable or failing to reach campaign venues.
Bobi Wine Alleges Intentional Delays
The Police defence comes after Bobi Wine and NUP officials raised concerns about repeated blockages and circuitous detours across several districts.
The NUP leadership cited Iganga Municipality as an example, where security personnel allegedly prevented campaign vehicles and media teams from using main roads.
According to NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya, alternative routes directed by Police could add three to four extra hours to the journey, allegedly slowing down the candidate’s arrival and potentially impacting rally attendance.
Bobi Wine further claimed that Police vehicles deliberately slowed ahead of his convoy to ensure the delays.
Turning Challenges Into Political Messaging
Despite these logistical hurdles, Bobi Wine framed the experience as an opportunity to document the state of rural Uganda.
“We are blocked from using the main roads and townships,” he said, “but this is an advantage because we get to see first-hand… the sickening poverty, the dead infrastructure, debilitated schools and health care systems.”
The campaign has used these detours to highlight infrastructure deficits and social service challenges, turning alleged obstruction into a tool for political advocacy and public awareness.
Have you witnessed Bobi Wine’s campaign on these long routes? Share your observations about the road conditions and access in the comments below!
