Bobi Wine is a Ugandan activist, musician, lawyer, actor, and politician. He formerly served as the Member of Parliament for Kyadondo County East in Wakiso District, located in Uganda’s Central Region, and currently leads the National Unity Platform political party.
The Electoral Commission of Uganda has described violent confrontations at campaign rally of presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, in Gulu on Saturday, December 6, 2025, as disruptive to the electoral process.
Bobi Wine is a Ugandan activist, musician, lawyer, actor, and politician. He formerly served as the Member of Parliament for Kyadondo County East in Wakiso District, located in Uganda’s Central Region, and currently leads the National Unity Platform political party.
The violence occurred just days after a meeting between all agents of presidential candidates and the Uganda Police Force, where participants had pledged to maintain peaceful campaigns.
Reports confirm that police and military used force, including beatings and tear gas, to disperse crowds, while Wine himself said he was attacked and beaten during the confrontation.
A video obtained by SaharaReporters shows tear gas canisters being fired into the rally, forcing organisers and attendees to flee and scattering the crowd.
But in a statement on Sunday, the Commission said the violence is inconsistent with the principles of free and fair elections.
Justice Byabakama Mugenyi Simon, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, said all stakeholders must comply with electoral laws.
“Violence is inconsistent with the Commission's enduring calls on all stakeholders to act peacefully and in accordance with electoral laws to enable Ugandans have free, fair and credible elections,” he said.
According to him, presidential candidates are free to campaign across the country, provided they follow legal procedures and guidelines issued by the Commission:
“A duly nominated Presidential candidate is free to traverse any part of Uganda to campaign, provided he or she is acting in line with the law and guidelines issued by the Electoral Commission,” Simon said.
The Commission said any disagreements on the campaign trail should be resolved through dialogue rather than “violence and confrontation”.
On accountability, the Commission called on the police to investigate the Gulu clashes and ensure those responsible are held to account.
“The Commission calls on @PoliceUg to investigate the circumstances that led to Saturday's confrontation and ensure that those responsible are subjected to the full force of the law,” he said.
The Commission also called on law enforcement agencies “to exercise restraint and use proportionate, lawful and humane means while enforcing compliance with electoral laws and guidelines.”
The Commission stated that it will await the outcome of investigations to determine the root causes of the violence and emphasized that all campaigns in Uganda must be conducted peacefully and within the law.