KAMPALA.Police have confirmed the arrest of opposition lawmaker and National Unity Platform (NUP) vice president for Buganda Region Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi.
This comes just days after President Museveni openly accused him of backing violent “panga-wielding” attacks that he described as terrorist acts linked to post-election unrest.
“The Uganda Police Force would like to confirm the arrest of the Butambala County legislator, Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi. He is currently in police custody and will be arraigned before court in due course,” Katonga region police spokesperson Lydia Tumushabe said in a brief statement on X.
Hiding party leader Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, has alleged that hundreds of NUP supporters and two senior leaders—Lydia Tukamushaba, the party’s Deputy President for Western Uganda, and Lina Zedriga, the Deputy President for Northern Uganda—have been forcibly disappeared in the last seven days amid a mounting crackdown, allegations the authorities have yet to comment on.
Kivumbi’s arrest follows remarks by Museveni during a victory address on Sunday, in which he accused sections of the opposition, including Kivumbi, of plotting coordinated attacks on polling stations after losing parliamentary races in last week’s General Election.
Speaking at his Rwakitura residence in Kiruhura District over the weekend , Museveni claimed that after Kivumbi was defeated in the Butambala County race, groups armed with pangas attempted to carry out violent attacks.
Museveni said seven people were shot dead by security forces during the incident.
“What these people were planning is what happened in Butambala with Kivumbi. They were planning to do it all over,” Museveni said, adding that security agencies had received intelligence warning of similar plots elsewhere.
“Those who came to [State Lodge] Nakasero on January 13 told me that was the plan… of course we were ready to deal with them decisively,” he told senior ruling party officials and religious leaders.
Kivumbi was defeated by former journalist-turned-politician Eriasa Mukiibi in one of the most closely watched parliamentary contests.
In a video shared on social media on Saturday, Kivumbi rejected Museveni’s account and accused security forces of excessive force, showing bullet-riddled garage doors and shattered windows at what he described as his home .
“Out of panic, they carried away bodies to justify their rhetoric that they had killed them away from here,” Kivumbi said, claiming that nearly 10 of his supporters were killed.
Museveni doubled down on his accusations on Sunday, issuing a warning to opposition figures.
“So, all the traitors… this is free advice from me that stop what you’re doing because we know everything and you will not do it. Either peacefully or unpeacefully, we shall maintain peace in Uganda,” he said.
He again alleged that some opposition actors were linked to foreign groups seeking to destabilise Uganda, including organisations he described as promoting homosexuality.
Opposition leader Bobi Wine, who has rejected the election results, dismissed Museveni’s accusations earlier this month, saying the president was relying on flawed intelligence.
“I don’t look at Gen Museveni with anger. I look at him with pity,” Bobi Wine said in a January 1 New Year address, responding to Museveni’s end-of-2025 speech.
“By his age, he is being fed fake intelligence,” he added.
The arrest of Kivumbi comes amid mounting concerns over the treatment of opposition figures during the ongoing election cycle.
Past incidents
Uganda has a long history of prolonged pre-trial detention of government critics. Veteran opposition leader Kizza Besigye remains in custody more than 345 days after his rendition from Nairobi, facing treason-related charges without trial.
In the previous election cycle, former MPs Muhammad Ssegirinya and Allan Ssewanyana were detained for more than 500 days over murder and terrorism charges linked to violence in central Uganda. Ssegirinya later died, and the state dropped charges against him in March 2025. Ssewanyana lost his parliamentary seat in the January 15 election.
Last Saturday , Uganda’s Electoral Commission declared Museveni winner of the January 15 presidential vote with 71.65 percent, extending his rule to nearly four decades. The election was held under an internet blackout and was marred by allegations of irregularities, biometric voter verification failures and heavy security deployments.