A joint operation by police and military personnel unfolded dramatically on Wednesday as security forces conducted a raid at One Love Beach in Busabala, a property owned by Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, the National Unity Platform (NUP) president and opposition leader widely known as Bobi Wine.
The incident, which Kyagulanyi detailed in a statement shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, involved a forced entry onto the beach premises. According to Kyagulanyi, security forces broke through the gates and cut off the facility’s CCTV systems, effectively disabling any visual documentation of the operation.
"Police and military have raided our premises at One Love Beach-Busabala, broken the gates, and entered by force. Our CCTV cameras have been cut off, and our employees are being rounded up," Kyagulanyi wrote, expressing his outrage over the actions.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that employees at the facility were rounded up by the armed personnel, while some reportedly fled to the kitchen area for safety. However, Kyagulanyi alleged that tear gas was fired at those seeking refuge, escalating the chaos. The number of employees detained or injured during the operation remains unconfirmed as of now.
Efforts to obtain a statement from security agencies yielded no clear explanation for the raid. When contacted, Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Deputy Spokesperson Col Deo Akiiki directed inquiries to Police Spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke, who did not respond to multiple calls.
Kyagulanyi, who was en route to the site at the time of this report, suggested that the raid might be politically motivated, as the facility was scheduled to host a retreat for NUP foot soldiers.
This is not the first time properties associated with Kyagulanyi have been targeted. The opposition leader, a vocal critic of President Museveni's government, has previously faced similar incidents, which have drawn widespread criticism as attempts to stifle political dissent.
Social media platforms were abuzz with reactions following the raid, as supporters and human rights advocates condemned the heavy-handed tactics employed by security forces. Calls for accountability and transparency regarding the motive behind the operation have been echoed by various quarters, fueling further scrutiny of the government’s actions.
The situation at One Love Beach remains tense, with questions about the safety of employees and the justification for the raid still unanswered. To Bobi Wine, it symbolizes growing political influence and public validation, challenging the establishment, reinforcing his image as a youth leader, and signaling potential shifts in Uganda’s political landscape.
