By KT Reporter
The Bardege-Layibi Division Member of Parliament, Martin Ojara Mapenduzi, has spoken out about allegations linking him to the disruption of the National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu’s campaign in Gulu City over the weekend. Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, campaigned in Gulu on Saturday, December 6, 2025, but his visited was marred by violence.
Joint security forces comprising Uganda People’s Defense Forces and the Police, engaged his supporters in running battles, beating several as Bobi Wine attempted to address crowds in the city. Amid the heavy security deployment, groups of youth reportedly took to the streets assaulting anyone dressed in red—headbands, headgear, or clothing—while security personnel looked on.
The youth, estimated to be between 50 and 90, moved in a single line through the central business district carrying sticks. The office of the Resident City Commissioner says it has not yet received formal complaints regarding property looting but confirmed one death resulting from the scuffle. The incident has drawn widespread criticism from the public, with religious and traditional leaders calling for free and peaceful elections in 2026.
Addressing journalists at Taks Arts Centre in Gulu City on Wednesday afternoon, Mapenduzi—who is seeking reelection for Bardege-Layibi Division—described the incident as “regrettable and unfortunate.” He noted that although some members of the community were blaming him for planning the chaos that compromised public safety, he was engaged elsewhere with boda-boda operators on business and development matters at the time.
Mapenduzi explained that before Bobi Wine’s scheduled rally, he had arranged a meeting with boda-boda riders to encourage each of the 2,000 cyclists to save at least 1,000 shillings daily to eventually purchase their own motorcycles instead of resorting to exploitative loans. He said he mobilized 300 boda-boda operators—mostly stage leaders from Gulu East—and provided each with one litre of fuel and 5,000 shillings for lunch, since no meals had been served at the meeting venue at St. Monica Tailoring School.
About 500 meters from his meeting site, Bobi Wine was yet to arrive at Awere Playground when the cyclists took to the streets in what appeared to be a coordinated move to disrupt the NUP candidate’s entry into the city. “If anybody would want to blame Mapenduzi that day, then I would ask you if it was wrong to support the boda-boda in their businesses. If the NUP is blaming me for denying them boda-boda from whom they wanted to move with their President, it’s their problem,” Mapenduzi said.
He acknowledged the challenges Bobi Wine and his supporters faced in Gulu City and called on security agencies to investigate and prosecute those responsible.
“I am not the security officer; I am not the police officer; I am an elected leader who was meeting his people. I can’t account for what happened but there are those who did it. Some are known, so let them be brought to book. I never got involved in any planning,” Mapenduzi added.
The Deputy Resident City Commissioner for Laroo-Pece Division, Peter Banya, described the events that unfolded during the campaigns as “regrettable” and attributed them to gaps in the security measures deployed. “There was a gap and we apologize for whatever happened, but the security acted in the public interest to protect the citizens and their property. Yes, the forces couldn’t do everything enough. There were lootings, but sadly, the schoolboy died later after the assault,” Banya said.
On December 9, 2025, Ker Kwaro Acholi issued a statement condemning the incident and calling for a thorough investigation by the police and other security agencies. Okello Okuna, the Public Relations Officer for Ker Kwaro Acholi, said it was wrong for both sides to involve vulnerable youth in election-related violence, which resulted in the loss of a young boy’s life and the looting of property belonging to the business community. He appealed for peaceful campaigns as the 2026 elections draw closer.
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