KAMPALA UGANDA, Thursday, December 4, 2025 – The Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) has issued a sharp and uncompromising warning to the National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate, Kyagulanyi, over what the military calls “divisive language” that could provoke political violence and anarchy.
The caution, delivered in a statement by Colonel Chris Magezi, the Acting Director of Defence Public Information, singles out Kyagulanyi’s continuous calls for his supporters to “mob polling centers on Election Day, and thereafter march to the Capital Kampala.”
The statement further accuses the NUP candidate of encouraging followers “to be prepared to confront the security forces because, in his view, the police and UPDF would be outnumbered on the ground.”
The security forces characterized this type of rhetoric as “very unfortunate indeed,” condemning it as “ill advised, toxic, shallow in logic, and dangerous.” They demanded that the communication cease immediately.
Col. Magezi issued an explicit warning regarding the consequences of such incitement, stating that those who “promote anarchy in the country by misleading the young of Uganda to violently confront the security forces will themselves not escape the outcome.” The UPDF argued that the net effect of such actions would be a “futile and zero-sum game with no winners.”
The military strongly asserted its operational readiness, emphasizing that the country’s armed forces are “highly capable, organized, proficient and lethal.”
The UPDF statement relates to the speech Kyagulanyi made while addressing supporters in Kayunga recently, seemingly encouraging them to disobey orders from security which have continuously harassed them. He was heard telling supporters to return home like “rebels” and he told them how the security personnel are few compared to multitudes who throng his campaign rallies.
”There is no threat we cannot deal with, and it will be very bad news for those who do not heed the warnings,” the statement read.
To underscore their capability, the UPDF urged the NUP leader to “consult the al-Shabaab in Somalia, the ADF and CODECO in DRC, or Joseph Kony and his defunct LRA in CAR, as well as other violent and negative groups in the region.”
The UPDF also drew parallels to historical and recent domestic uprisings, condemning the actions of “modern day Alice Lakwena’s, or the Kirumira Mutimas of the Ruwenzori region” who similarly confuse young people into “reckless misadventures.”
Concluding the message, the UPDF appealed to all political leaders to prioritize the country’s long history of stability and national credibility.
”We appeal to political leaders to look for votes peacefully and in accordance with the Electoral Commission guidelines and within the confines and spirit of the laws of Uganda,” the statement ended.