The residence where the alleged rigging was taking place
A group of National Unity Platform (NUP) officials and journalists were assaulted in Nameere, Kawempe North, during a raid on a residential home where individuals were suspected of pre-ticking ballot papers.
According to David Lewis Rubongoya, NUP’s secretary general, the party received information the previous night about alleged electoral malpractice at a residence guarded by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF). On Wednesday, Rubongoya, accompanied by the Leader of Opposition (LoP) Joel Ssenyonyi and NUP flagbearer Erias Nalukoola Luyimbazi, arrived at the residence.
Ssenyonyi claims that they received intelligence at the start of the week from neighbours – indicating that Electoral Commission spokesperson Julius Mucunguzi had frequented this house in the past few days. When they got in, they found people plucking number plates off vehicles that were in the compound. In past by-elections elsewhere, it is such vehicles that have been used for malpractice.
Present at the house were Charles Lwanga, Nansana Municipality Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Luuka deputy RDC Hassan Sembalirwa . They encountered resistance from soldiers and armed individuals in civilian clothing guarding the premises. The situation quickly escalated into violence, with soldiers assaulting Rubongoya and several journalists.
Vehicles belonging to Nalukoola and Ssenyonyi were also damaged, with their windows shattered by stones. Steven Kibwiika, a camera operator from Spark TV, suffered severe injuries and was hospitalized after being assaulted.
His camera equipment was also confiscated. According to Ssenyonyi, efforts to seek assistance from the police were met with reluctance. Ssenyonyi has called on the Electoral Commission to issue a statement clarifying whether it is indeed overseeing the Kawempe North by-election.
Meanwhile, the Uganda Police Force has heightened security measures ahead of the elections, with all security agencies on high alert to counter potential election-related violence. Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango stated that proactive steps have been taken to mitigate any threats.
“The patrol groups will comprise the Field Force Unit, General Duty Police, Military Police, Uganda People’s Defence Forces, and 999 patrol vehicles. Intelligence agencies have mapped out black spots during these by-elections, and security agencies are going to deploy in these areas and maintain dominance,” Onyango said.
