Nubian Li Arrested Moments After Nakawa Nomination
Chaos unfolded in Ntinda on Monday after Nakawa mayoral candidate Ali Buken, popularly known as Nubian Li, was arrested immediately following his nomination at the Electoral Commission offices.
According to eyewitnesses, both uniformed and plain-clothed officers encircled him as he stepped out of the nomination venue, before shoving him into a police truck and driving off to an undisclosed location.
The opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) swiftly condemned the arrest, saying it exposed the government’s desperation to intimidate its candidates ahead of the 2026 polls.
Party spokesperson Joel Ssenyonyi criticized the move, insisting it only reflected a regime losing confidence in free political competition.
“A short while ago, as he exited the Electoral Commission offices in Ntinda after being nominated for the position of Nakawa Mayor, Ali Buken (Nubian Li) was pushed into a police truck and taken to an unknown location. The fear of the regime is evident, let’s press on!” Ssenyonyi declared.
The arrest has fueled accusations of a systematic crackdown on NUP leaders and supporters.
Just hours earlier, the party’s deputy spokesperson Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro was also arrested outside Kawempe Magistrate’s Court, a development that has heightened concerns over growing political repression in the lead-up to the elections.
