The National Unity Platform (NUP) have dismissed police and UPDF claims that they were looking for military and police stores during their raid on the party offices in Kamwokya, Kampala.

“If the Police says they were looking for military attire, why did they take T-shirts, why did they take the money, why did they take our CCTV cameras,” Mr David Lewis Rubongoya, NUP Secretary General said while appearing on NTV on Thursday morning.

Security operatives Wednesday said their operation at NUP head offices was to recover police and military stores being used by Bobi Wine supporters for political campaigns.

Police and the army raided NUP head office and several shops in different parts of Kampala where they recovered NUP branding materials including T-shirts and red berets.

At a joint press conference Wednesday evening, police and the army told journalists in Kampala that it was illegal for civilians to wear berets, matching outfits, insignia, camouflage fatigues and boots similar to those of armed forces.

Search operations were conducted in different parts of Kampala such as Kamwokya, Makindye, Kiyembe (Luwum Street), Mulago, Bwaise and Kawempe, with the police spokesperson, Mr Fred Enanga, saying, it was intended to stop the production of unauthorized uniforms by illegal manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and sellers.

“Wearing uniforms that are a preserve of the armed forces is illegal behavioral which was escalating especially among some political groups and celebrities. It is a usurpation of the legitimate law enforcement and military functions which is a violation of the law,” Mr Enanga said.

Bobi Wine, 38, has become a popular figure among the youth in a country where the median age is less than 16.

After more than 30 years in power, the 76-year-old Museveni is the only president most have known.

Bobi Wine, nicknamed the “Ghetto President”, announced last year he would challenge Museveni in 2021’s presidential election.

But since becoming an MP in 2017, Wine has been routinely arrested and put under house arrest, his concerts banned and public rallies dispersed with teargas.

Museveni, one of Africa’s longest-serving rulers, had the constitution amended for a second time to allow him to run a sixth time in 2021.