Kawempe North By-Election: Authorities crackdown on the NUP supporters and mobilizers on the final day of the campaign… (Journalists attacked, Elias Luyimbaazi Nalukoola arrested again!)
- Admin
- Mar 21, 2025
- 3 min read
The cost of a free and truly democratic Uganda has sought up each day that passes. The political struggle by the youth with the goal of a peaceful transition of power from tyranny has taken a toll on many lives and families. The opposition in Uganda that is mostly comprised of the youth have been labeled as Enemies of State even when they have done nothing more than peaceful participation in the country’s politics. Battered, brutalized, abducted and others killed is how the security forces have met with the endless cries for freedom.
Renowned NUP mobilizers Habib Buwembo, John Kevin Muganga, Beatrice Chebet, Awuyo Gerald Timothy and Patricia Nalukenge, alongside other party mobilizers, have been on the unfortunate side of Uganda’s political situation.
On the 13th/03/2025 during and after the Kawempe North by elections at Kazo Angola polling station, masked security operatives attacked, battered and brutalized the NUP mobilizers as they were executing their assignments working alongside their candidate Luyimbazi Elias Nalukoola. Other party members who were brutalized include Emmanuel Kihembo, Ronald Katabala, Hassan Musaasizi, Josephine Nakakembo and Zawadi Nabukeera among others.
Top journalists from different Media houses including Nation media group’s Raymond Tamale and Hasfah Nanvuma among other were also attacked, with some severely beaten as they attempted to document the brutality witnessed at the polling station.
Among those arrested included two opposition MPs from the National Unity Platform (NUP), Geoffrey Kayemba Ssolo (Bukomansimbi South) and Hillary Kiyaga (Mawokota North), who were whisked away by the masked security operatives under unclear charges.
In the aftermath, a number of mobilizers, journalists and supporters engaged in the brutality were rushed to nearby health centers and clinics for medical assistance.
One of the NUP mobilizers, Patricia Nalukenge, recounted how she was attacked while doing her party assignments at the polling station; “I was talking to my team at the polling station to organize them and engage the officials to allow members who had not yet voted to cast their ballots, when two patrol vehicles arrived on the scene. Immediately, masked people boarded off and started beating people randomly. As I attempted to ask why they were being violent, I was also brutalized and unfortunately lost some of my front teeth in the process, but so many other members were also badly beaten and are in different hospitals”.
The government has denied any affiliation with the masked security operatives accused of attacking leaders and supporters of the Opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) during the Kawempe North parliamentary by-election campaigns.
When asked about the recent kawempe arrests and attacks, Deputy Kampala Metropolitan police spokesperson, ASP Luke Owoyesigyire, on Tuesday, 4th March 2025, while briefing the press at Wandegeya Police Station confirmed Police arrested over 25 supporters of the opposition National Unity Platform party accused of disrupting traffic and causing damages during the Monday clash in Kampala.
“The 25 individuals are under investigation for charges of common nuisance and malicious damage. As of now, 21 of them have been taken to Kanyanya Magistrate’s Court, while four, including MPs Derrick Nyeko of Makindye East and Muwada Nkunyingi of Kyadondo East, remain in our custody and are awaiting transfer to court.”
Robert Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine, the NUP leader, had accused security of brutalizing his supporters. He claimed they were being targeted by the joint forces during the ongoing campaigns in Kawempe North by-elections.
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