In Butaleja District, a storm is brewing over allegations of corruption and abuse of power within the police.
Moses Lyada, a former parliamentary contestant and National Unity Platform (NUP) activist, has accused the police of deliberately suppressing voices that speak out against corruption and poor service delivery.
His latest standoff with authorities began on January 24, 2025, when he and his team planned a peaceful demonstration to highlight alleged corruption among local politicians and technical staff.
When his delegation delivered a formal notification to Butaleja Central Police Station, the response, he says, was intimidation rather than cooperation.
“The officer at the reception warned that my colleague, Mr. Maka, would be arrested for simply delivering the letter. Moments later, the DPC and OC called me, saying we needed clearance from the IGP or else we had to cancel our protest. But we knew our rights, and we stood our ground,” Lyada explained.
Despite being legally advised that no police clearance was required for a peaceful demonstration, Lyada and his team pressed ahead with their plans.
However, the police presence in town grew intense.
“By 8:00 AM, the streets were flooded with officers, and it was clear they were hunting for me. Over 25 policemen were following me everywhere, wasting fuel patrolling the town instead of focusing on real crime,” he said. “It was the local people who protected me from being arrested on false charges.”
Lyada believes the authorities were acting under pressure from corrupt officials to prevent the protest.
He pointed to several questionable projects in the district, including the Butaleja House construction project, Mazimasa Health Centre III, and Butaleja Secondary School, all of which have been flagged for substandard work and suspicious expenditures.
This latest wave of political repression against Lyada is not an isolated case. It follows his vocal opposition to what he called the “unpatriotic decision” to transfer Nalongo Kwesiga, a move he believes was influenced by political maneuvering rather than merit.
In response, Lyada mobilized a peaceful demonstration to demand justice, arguing that hardworking RDCs and RCCs should be protected rather than punished.
“I am amused by the efforts of Mama Nabanja to defend committed government officials. But I appeal to Babalanda and her team to always come on the ground before being misled by selfish political leaders and technical staff—otherwise, they should be ready to be shamed by voters. Some opposition leaders love this country more than some of your agents,” he stated.
Just a day after dodging arrest in Butaleja, Lyada was detained in Iganga for wearing a red beret and a T-shirt bearing the slogan “No Tarmac Road, No Vote for NRM in Butaleja.” He says police accused him of using his attire to incite unrest.
“Almost 70% of the officers at the station kept asking why I had dressed like that. But since when did wearing a T-shirt become a crime? I told them that as a Ugandan, I have the right to belong to NUP and to express myself freely,” Lyada stated.
He was later questioned by an SFC officer, Captain Musinguzi, who suspected him of planning to disrupt the president’s visit.
“The captain asked why I had more T-shirts in my bag, as if carrying extra clothes was a crime. I told him clearly, that I’m a political activist, and wearing my party colors is my right. That’s when they detained me at Iganga CPS until Monday.”
Lyada says that while a few SFC officers remained professional, most police officers showed clear political bias.
“They don’t serve Ugandans anymore. They serve politicians. Instead of using their power to fight crime, they spend their energy suppressing activists like me,” he said.
His story reflects broader concerns about human rights in Uganda. The 2024 Freedom House Global Freedom Index rated Uganda as “not free,” citing heavy restrictions on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
Lyada also condemned the continued intimidation of protesters and the practice of trying civilians in military courts. However, he welcomed a recent Supreme Court ruling that reaffirmed that no civilian should be subjected to military trials.
“Injustice to one is injustice to all. The fight for the rule of law is not about politics, but protecting every Ugandan’s rights,” he stated.
