UPDF Breaks Silence on Military Deployments at Checkpoints Reportedly Meant for Bobi Wine’s Arrest

UPDF, Uganda’s national army, has spoken out military deployments at checkpoints reportedly meant for Bobi Wine’s arrest.

In a clarification on military police deployments at checkpoints in the Kampala Metropolitan Area, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces attempted to portray itself as not being on a hunt for Bobi Wine, real name Robert Kyagulanyi, the leader of main opposition National Unity Platform (NUP).

On Monday, 9 March 2026, security launched checkpoints that some claimed were aimed at arresting Bobi Wine who has been away from his home since mid-January 2026 when he lost this year’s presidential election to Yoweri Museveni, the incumbent.

According to Defence and UPDF spokesperson Col Chris Magezi, the operation is being led by the UPDF Military Police Brigade and the Uganda Police Force (UPF). And that contrary to reports on social media, the operation is meant to enforce traffic regulations.

“The UPDF Military Police Brigade, working with the Uganda Police Force have embarked on an operation to restore sanity on Ugandan roads, ensure full compliance with traffic regulations by ALL motorists, impound unregistered or numberless vehicles,  and curb the illegal use of sirens, among other measures,” Magezi said.

He did not specify when the operation would end. “The operation was launched effective Monday, 9 March 2026 and will proceed in force for as long as necessary.”

Col Chris Magezi was categorical in dismissing claims that the military checkpoints are meant to arrest Bobi Wine.

“This is therefore to dismiss the insinuations from some quarters that the snap checkpoints mounted by the Military and Uganda Police traffic corps is an effort to apprehend NUP leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine),” Magezi said.

“No one is looking for or interested in the NUP leader, the aim of the police forces is to restore discipline, total observance of traffic regulations, and curtail criminal activities by some motorists on the roads.

Besides, the enforcement measures are not new, and have been employed in the past to achieve similar objectives. Motorists, including motorcyclists, are urged to cooperate and comply with the Military Police and Uganda Traffic Police directives for the common good.”

Disregard of traffic rules has in recent weeks led to accidents that have killed scores of people, as reported Here, There and Over There.

Meanwhile, a top US senator has called on the Trump administration to impose sanctions against Museveni’s regime over brutality, as reported Here.