The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) have firmly dismissed claims by National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, that newly deployed military police checkpoints across the Kampala Metropolitan Area are part of a manhunt targeting him.

In an official statement released on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, Colonel Chris Magezi, the Acting Director of Defence Public Information at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, described such allegations as baseless insinuations.

“The operation was launched effective Monday, March 9, 2026 and will proceed in force for as long as necessary,” the statement reads.

“This is therefore to dismiss the insinuations from some quarters that the snap checkpoints mounted by the Military and Uganda Police traffic corps is an effort to apprehend NUP leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine). No one is looking for or interested in the NUP leader. The aim of the police forces is to restore discipline, total observance of traffic regulations, and curtail criminal activities by some motorists on the roads.”

The joint UPDF Military Police Brigade and Uganda Police Force operation focuses on restoring sanity on Ugandan roads.

Key measures include: Strict enforcement of traffic regulations for all motorists, Impounding unregistered or numberless vehicles, Cracking down on the illegal use of sirens and other violations and Preventing criminal activities facilitated by reckless or unregistered motorists.

Colonel Magezi stressed that the enforcement drive is not new and has been used successfully in the past for similar road safety and security objectives.

Motorists, including boda-boda riders, have been urged to cooperate fully with officers at the checkpoints.

The clarification follows widespread speculation and claims on social media — including posts attributed to Bobi Wine and his supporters — suggesting the checkpoints were specifically set up to locate the opposition leader, who has reportedly been in hiding since evading arrest attempts after the 2026 general elections.

Authorities insist the deployments are routine and aimed at public safety, with no political motive.

The operation will continue indefinitely until full compliance with road rules is achieved.