Summary:

• Bobi Wine, president of Uganda’s National Unity Platform (NUP) party, criticized the government for demolishing buildings ahead of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit. He claimed over 3,000 premises were affected. Wine accused the government of prioritizing a positive image for international visitors over the well-being of Ugandan citizens. The NAM conference, hosting 1,500 delegates, started on January 15. Wine also condemned an alleged police attempt to break into NUP offices. Police denied receiving any reports on the matter.

Mr. Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, the president of the National Unity Platform (NUP) party, has voiced his criticism against the government’s decision to demolish buildings along roads in preparation for the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit hosted by the country.

During a media address at the NUP headquarters in Kampala on January 15, Mr. Kyagulanyi expressed concern, citing reports that more than 3,000 business premises, particularly in Makindye Division, had been demolished. These demolitions were part of the government’s efforts, led by Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and the official NAM summit organizing committee, to enhance the appearance of the capital city for the upcoming NAM and G77 + China conferences.

As a component of the preparations, KCCA carried out demolitions of roadside businesses on major routes such as Kampala-Ggaba, Kibuli, and Lukuli roads. Additionally, residents along these routes were compelled to either renovate or close their buildings. In Kitalanga Zone of Makindye, over 200 people reportedly lost their homes as KCCA allegedly demolished their unplanned houses to widen a drainage channel.

Mr. Kyagulanyi emphasized that while international conferences like the NAM summit could be advantageous for a well-governed country, the situation in Uganda had turned into a curse. He likened it to the disruptions caused during the 2007 Commonwealth Heads of State Meeting in Kampala.

He criticized the government’s last-minute infrastructure development, stating that it aimed to present a positive image to international visitors at the expense of the suffering Ugandan citizens. Mr. Kyagulanyi remarked that the reality was far from the rosy picture the government was attempting to portray.

The NAM conference, which began yesterday and will continue until January 23 at the Speke Resort Convention Centre in Munyonyo, is expected to host at least 1,500 delegates, including several heads of state.

Meanwhile, Mr. Joel Ssenyonyi, the NUP spokesperson and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, condemned an alleged attempt by individuals claiming to be police officers to forcefully enter their party offices on Saturday evening. He announced the party’s intention to petition the Inspector General of Police in protest. However, the deputy Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, ASP Luke Owoyesigyire, stated that the police had not received any reports regarding the alleged attempt to break into NUP offices in Makerere Kavule, Kawempe Division of Kampala.