Manirabuka appeared before Chief Magistrate Thomas Okoth on Thursday, October 2, 2025, where he pleaded guilty to vandalizing the posters on September 22, 2025, along Majanji Road in Busia town.

According to State Prosecutor Julius Danx Tuhairwe, the accused used a sharp object to slash at least five of Museveni’s campaign posters. However, in his defense, Manirabuka insisted that he had destroyed only four.

Explaining his actions, Manirabuka said his family had supported and campaigned for Museveni for many years without receiving recognition or reward.

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He said: “I tore the posters so that the President would get the message that there is a family in Busia that worked tirelessly day and night for him but was never appreciated,” he told the court. Following his confession, Chief Magistrate Okoth ordered that he be remanded at Masafu Government Prison pending sentencing.

Manirabuka, a resident of Busia town and a member of the Basoga ethnic group, allegedly vandalized the posters near Busia Police Station before attempting to flee. He was later arrested by security officers after being tracked down in Eastern Uganda.

The case comes at a time of heightened political tensions in Uganda, as eight candidates are vying for the presidency, including incumbent Museveni of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (NUP), and others.

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Incidents of campaign material vandalism have been on the rise. Recently, posters belonging to Kyagulanyi, widely known as 'Bobi Wine', were also destroyed.

The eight candidates contesting the presidency in Uganda are:

• President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (NRM)

• Kasibante Robert (NPP)

• Mabirizi Joseph (CP)

• Nandala Mafabi James Nathan (FDC)

• Mugisha Gregory Muntu Oyera (ANT)

• Kyagulanyi Robert Ssentamu (NUP)

• Munyagwa Mubarak Sserunga (CMP)

• Bulira Frank Kabinga (RPP)