The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has issued a sharp demand for the immediate removal of police officers stationed at the Magere residence of National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu, arguing that the deployment flies in the face of a standing High Court decision and violates fundamental constitutional protections. The lawyers’ body says the continued security presence effectively amounts to illegal confinement.
In a formal communication dated January 30 and addressed to Inspector General of Police Abbas Byakagaba, ULS leaders accused the Uganda Police Force of disregarding a clear judicial ruling that previously declared Kyagulanyi’s prolonged restriction to his home unlawful.
The letter underscores that the court had already pronounced itself against such measures, making the current situation legally indefensible.Signed by ULS Vice President Asiimwe Anthony, the correspondence states that the High Court, in Miscellaneous Cause No. 16 of 2021, found that indefinite limitations on Kyagulanyi’s movement breached his right to personal liberty.
The society argues that repeating similar restrictions today represents not only disobedience of a court order but also a troubling pattern of rights violations.According to the legal body, the heavy deployment has reportedly hindered access to essential goods and services, including food and other basic needs.
ULS contends that such actions undermine constitutionally guaranteed freedoms, including freedom of movement, personal liberty, and the right to live with dignity under acceptable living conditions.The society reminded police leadership that law enforcement agencies are bound to operate strictly within legal frameworks and to respect decisions handed down by competent courts. It warned that failure to comply with judicial rulings weakens public trust in state institutions and erodes the very foundation of the rule of law.ULS has therefore called on the police chief to urgently withdraw all officers positioned at the Magere home, halt any form of unlawful access control, and ensure full observance of constitutional standards and court directives.
Copies of the letter were also sent to the Attorney General and the Minister of Internal Affairs, signaling the gravity the lawyers attach to the matter.Kyagulanyi, widely known as Bobi Wine, has repeatedly found his residence surrounded by security personnel, particularly during politically sensitive periods such as elections or major opposition activities. Critics say these deployments often function as undeclared house arrests, limiting his ability to engage with supporters, colleagues, and the public.
The renewed intervention by ULS comes amid heightened political tensions, with opposition figures and civil society groups increasingly accusing security agencies of sidestepping court rulings. For many observers, the dispute goes beyond one individual, raising deeper questions about constitutional governance, institutional accountability, and the state’s commitment to upholding judicial authority in Uganda.
