Tension gripped Lira City on Tuesday night after police and plainclothes security operatives stormed a hotel where National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, and members of his campaign team were staying.

According to eyewitnesses, the security personnel arrived at the hotel at around 10:00 p.m., cordoned off the premises, and began searching rooms one by one. The hotel’s receptionist was reportedly arrested during the operation, and several guests were ordered to remain in their rooms as officers conducted the search.

In a short video posted on TikTok, Bobi Wine confirmed the incident, saying, “It’s true, we are under siege. They are breaking into our rooms.” His remarks quickly spread across social media, sparking concern among supporters and human rights activists.

Officials from NUP accused the authorities of targeting members of Bobi Wine’s advance campaign team, who had been organizing meetings and mobilization activities in the northern region ahead of the 2026 general elections. They said the operation was part of a broader campaign to intimidate opposition figures.

As of press time, the Uganda Police Force had not issued an official statement explaining the motive behind the raid or confirming any arrests.

Bobi Wine has been traversing northern Uganda in recent weeks to rally support for his party. His activities have drawn large crowds, often resulting in heavy police deployments and confrontations between security forces and NUP supporters.

The Tuesday night incident adds to a growing list of confrontations between the opposition leader and state security agencies, which NUP claims are meant to stifle political dissent and frustrate their nationwide mobilization efforts.