NUP’S Asio Kidnapped , As Anitah Among is Declared Unopposed in Uganda’s Bukedea » The Hoima Post –

Uganda’s opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) says its parliamentary candidate Asio Florence has gone missing hours before her scheduled nomination, while Speaker of Parliament Anita Among was declared unopposed for the Bukedea Woman MP seat — deepening fears of political intimidation ahead of the 2026 general elections.

NUP president Robert Kyagulanyi, known widely as Bobi Wine, said Asio and several of her team members vanished on Wednesday morning while traveling from Soroti to Bukedea for nomination.

Their phones have since gone off, and relatives have been unable to locate them.

“HERE WE GO AGAIN! The whereabouts of our candidate for Bukedea Woman MP, Asio Florence, are unknown currently,” Kyagulanyi said in a statement.

“Her phone number as well as the phone numbers of the comrades she was travelling with from Soroti to Bukedea are all off. We’re in touch with their relatives who are desperately looking for them.”

He added that Mercy Marion Alupo, another NUP official who had been waiting at the Electoral Commission (EC) offices for Asio’s arrival, was also unreachable.

“Conspicuously, comrade Alupo Mercy Marion, who was waiting at the EC offices all day, is also not reachable on phone at the moment — we can only hope she’s fine,” Kyagulanyi said.

Prior Threats 

According to Kyagulanyi, Asio had previously reported receiving threats and intimidation from unidentified armed men allegedly targeting her family.

“Two days back, Asio called us and informed us that unknown armed persons traveling in a Premio vehicle had gone to her home, picked up her mother and two siblings, and took them to an unknown location where they were intimidated and asked to force her out of the race or face dire consequences,” he said.

Kyagulanyi accused Speaker Among of “using state institutions to eliminate political rivals,” saying her declaration as an unopposed candidate “symbolizes the death of democracy.”

“After committing all these crimes, Anita Among is chest-thumping that she is unopposed,” he said.

Among Declared Unopposed

The Electoral Commission on Wednesday declared Anita Among unopposed for the Bukedea Woman MP seat after no other candidates were nominated. The announcement came just hours after NUP reported losing contact with Asio and her team.

Opposition leaders and residents in Bukedea have condemned the development, saying it undermines the credibility of the election process.

“Our candidate disappears, and immediately the EC declares Among unopposed. That’s not an election — it’s a setup,” said Peter Ocen, a boda boda rider in Bukedea Town.

Chaos 

Separately, tensions flared at the Bukedea District headquarters when Mr. Charles Onglech, the NUP aspirant for Kachumbala County, was briefly denied access to the EC nomination centre.

Eyewitnesses said Onglech lost his temper after security officers blocked him from entering the venue. He was later allowed to proceed after staging a strong protest and attracting public attention.

He was later allowed in after putting up stiff resistance.

Party officials described the incident as part of a wider campaign of intimidation targeting opposition candidates in eastern Uganda.

Pattern 

Earlier this month, three women — Alupo (NUP), Norma Susan Otai (FDC), and Akol Hellen Odeke (Independent) — were deleted from the voters’ register by parish tribunals under disputed circumstances.

The move initially left Among without challengers before NUP unveiled Asio as its new flag bearer.

Neither the Electoral Commission nor the Uganda Police Force had issued statements on Asio’s disappearance or the disruptions at the Bukedea nomination centre by press time.

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