The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces has come out to explain the sudden wave of military checkpoints that appeared across Kampala roads, insisting the operation has nothing to do with opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu popularly known as Bobi Wine. Instead, the army says the joint operation with the Uganda Police Force is meant to crack […]
The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces has come out to explain the sudden wave of military checkpoints that appeared across Kampala roads, insisting the operation has nothing to do with opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu popularly known as Bobi Wine.
Instead, the army says the joint operation with the Uganda Police Force is meant to crack down on traffic indiscipline, illegal sirens, and vehicles moving without proper registration.
In a statement released Tuesday, Col. Chris Magezi said the UPDF Military Police Brigade had teamed up with traffic police officers to restore order on roads within the Kampala Metropolitan Area.
The operation officially kicked off on Monday, 9 March 2026 and will continue for as long as security agencies deem necessary.
According to Magezi, security teams at the checkpoints are inspecting vehicles and impounding those operating illegally, especially cars without number plates and motorists abusing sirens meant for authorized security vehicles.
“The UPDF Military Police Brigade working together with the Uganda Police Force has embarked on an operation to restore sanity on Ugandan roads, ensure full compliance with traffic regulations by all motorists, impound unregistered or numberless vehicles and curb the illegal use of sirens,” Magezi said.
However, the military spokesperson also moved to quickly dismiss speculation spreading online that the sudden roadblocks were part of a security plan to arrest Bobi Wine.
Magezi said the claims were misleading and insisted that the opposition leader was not the target of the security deployment.
“This is therefore to dismiss insinuations from some quarters that the snap checkpoints mounted by the Military Police and Uganda Police traffic corps are an effort to apprehend NUP leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu. No one is looking for or interested in the NUP leader,” he said.
Bobi Wine leads the National Unity Platform, Uganda’s main opposition party, and speculation about security deployments often sparks political debate online.
But according to the UPDF, the checkpoints are simply part of routine enforcement measures that have been carried out before to improve road discipline and combat crime carried out by rogue motorists.
Security agencies are now urging all drivers and boda boda riders to cooperate with officers on the ground.
Motorists have been advised to follow instructions issued by Military Police and traffic officers to ensure smooth traffic flow and maintain law and order on the roads.
