08/12/2025
PRESS STATEMENT ON THE VIOLENT ATTACK AGAINST HON. ROBERT KYAGULANYI (BOBI WINE), HIS SUPPORTERS, AND THE LOOTING OF PROPERTIES IN GULU CITY - Hon. Lyandro Komakech speaks out on the rot.
The leadership and concerned citizens of Gulu City strongly condemn the unfortunate and unjustified acts of violence that occurred on Saturday 6th December 2025, in which members of the Uganda Police Force, elements of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), and unidentified hired individuals assaulted Hon. Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine) and his supporters during their peaceful activities in Gulu City.
The use of excessive force, intimidation, and orchestrated disruption against unarmed civilians is unacceptable, unlawful, and contrary to the principles of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.
Gulu City has long been a symbol of resilience and recovery, and such acts of aggression not only tarnish the image of our community but also undermine public trust in state institutions mandated to protect all citizens without discrimination. Gulu is an emerging City that requires collective diverse efforts to market it globally. It’s the pride centre of the entire Acholi sub-region. It’s a tourist destination for wildlife and cultural attractions. The Acholi community, among others, haslived through a very violent past. Why the Guluness of these acts of violence and not any other parts of Uganda!
We call attention to the following concerns:
1. The violent dispersal of supporters and bystanders who were exercising their constitutional freedoms of assembly and expression.
2. The physical assault on Hon. Kyagulanyi and members of his team poses serious questions about the safety of political actors and the shrinking civic space in Uganda.
3. The involvement of masked or unidentified individuals, widely believed to be hired goons, acting in coordination with security operatives, which raises concerns about the growing trend
of informal violence in political processes.
4. The disruption of peace in Gulu City which risks reigniting fear in a community that has spent years healing from past conflict.
We therefore demand:
1. A full, independent, and transparent investigation into the conduct of the security forces and the individuals involved.
2. Immediate disciplinary and legal action against all perpetrators of violence.
3. An official apology to the people of Gulu City who lost properties during the loot and to Hon. Kyagulanyi and his supporters.
4. A commitment from government and security agencies to uphold constitutional freedoms, respect political pluralism, and ensure that no further violence is unleashed on civilians engaging in lawful activities.
We urge all residents of Gulu City to remain calm, united, and committed to peace. We further call upon civil society, religious leaders, cultural institutions, and the international community to stand in solidarity with all victims of political violence and to advocate for accountability and justice. Uganda remains a sovereign state and upholds international laws and all other covenants that govern its administration, operating under the rule of law.
Gulu City deserves peace, dignity, and respect—values that must never be compromised at all times.
Issued by:
Lyandro Komakech, Parliamentary Candidate Bar-dege Layibi Division- Gulu City
