The National Unity Platform (NUP) has called for the immediate release of activist Sauda Madada, who was arrested by police in Busia District on Tuesday amid the party’s heated nomination process for the 2026 general elections.
Madada, a long-time loyalist to NUP leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, was taken into custody just hours after another prominent party figure, singer-turned-politician Nubian Li (real name Ali Buken), was arrested in Kampala. Nubian Li had filed nomination papers to contest the Nakawa Division mayoral seat moments before his detention, leaving supporters and party officials stunned.
NUP Secretary-General David Lewis Rubongoya condemned the arrests in a statement, accusing authorities of targeting opposition voices at a critical time.
“These arrests are not isolated; they are part of a broader pattern to intimidate and silence the people’s will,” Rubongoya said. “Sauda Madada has been a fearless defender of our movement, enduring tear gas, beatings, and previous detentions for standing with the ghetto. We demand her unconditional release and answers from the police.”
Eyewitnesses in Busia reported that plainclothes officers intercepted Madada’s vehicle around midday. She was reportedly calm and did not resist, but was bundled into a police van and taken to an undisclosed location. Police have not announced any official charges.
Known as the “Iron Lady” or “General,” Madada has a long history of activism and clashes with authorities. Her record includes multiple arrests, a near-fatal accident in Jinja in 2021, and a hit-and-run incident in Kampala in 2022.
While celebrated by supporters for her grassroots activism and dedication, she has also faced criticism for confrontational behavior, including a 2021 protest at a parliamentary retreat.
Her exclusion from the party’s recent flag-bearer list has intensified internal tensions, with speculation that rivals like Shamim Malende have been favored for key positions. Observers warn that the arrests of Madada and other NUP figures could exacerbate divisions within the party ahead of the 2026 elections.