Oyam, Uganda: Police in Oyam District have arrested two men accused of defacing campaign posters belonging to the National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential candidate and incumbent President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, ahead of his scheduled campaign rally in the district on Tuesday.
The suspects, identified as Kenneth Onyang and Innocent Odyek, were apprehended on Sunday evening in Teduka Cell, Eastern Ward, Oyam Town Council, while a third suspect, identified only as Sam, managed to flee the scene.
According to Sam Owili, the LC1 Chairperson of Teduka Cell, the suspects were caught red-handed on October 5, 2025, removing Museveni’s campaign posters from public walls. “I saw them taking down the President’s posters and intervened immediately. They were later handed over to Oyam Central Police Station for further action,” Owili told DailyExpress.
Confirming the arrests, Patrick Jimmy Okema, the North Kyoga Regional Police Spokesperson, said the suspects are currently in detention as investigations continue. “The two suspects are being detained at Oyam CPS pending further inquiries. A case file has been opened, and detectives are gathering more evidence, including witness statements,” Okema said.
Police also launched a search for the third suspect who escaped during the operation.
The arrests come just days before President Museveni’s expected campaign rally in Oyam and Pakwach districts, marking his return to the campaign trail after a brief break to attend to state duties.
Authorities have since warned that the act of defacing political campaign materials contravenes the Presidential Elections Act, which outlines penalties for tampering with campaign notices or materials.
Section 80 of the Act stipulates that: “Any person who, without lawful excuse, destroys, mutilates, defaces, or removes any notice exhibited under the authority of this Act or any document made available for inspection under any provision of this Act commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding twenty-four currency points or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or both.”
Oyam Deputy Resident District Commissioner Francis Behangana condemned the incident, warning that such acts undermine democratic processes and will be dealt with firmly.
“These materials represent the voice of candidates and the rights of voters to access information. Regardless of a candidate’s level, anyone found tampering with campaign posters will face prosecution under the law,” Mr Behangana said.
This is the second incident of poster defacement targeting President Museveni’s campaign in the same area. On September 26, 2025, police recorded a similar case involving a suspect identified as Amos Owiny, who remains on the run.
District security officials say increased vigilance and community cooperation are key to curbing political vandalism ahead of the 2026 general elections.
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