KAMPALA. The Uganda Police have admitted that some of the violent clashes and fatalities recorded on campaign trails were a result of operational mistakes by security personnel, describing the incidents as regrettable and under investigation.
At a joint press briefing on the management of the 2026 elections in Kampala on Thursday, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Dina Kyasimire, the acting director of Human Rights and Human Services who represented Inspector General of Police Abbas Byakagaba, said officers are expected to exercise restraint, but acknowledged that some actions in the field fell below required standards.
According to police, several of the chaotic scenes, particularly during opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) campaign activities, emerged after candidates allegedly defied approved routes, prompting hurried responses by field commanders. The force said such deviations heightened risks of disorder, vandalism and violence.
“Electoral Commission gave guidelines on how our campaign should be carried out so we come in support and if you don’t abide by the law, definitely police will come in. We are not there to stop people from exercising their rights and probably as long as you have not used the allocated trail route, then we come in irrespective of the political party,” Ms Kyasimire said.
She rejected claims that police officers are ill prepared or demoralised.
“Our policemen are not frustrated, we have been training them specifically in as much as policing, rallies and campaigns is concerned. We always have errors done without directives, those are highly regrettable. We don’t send out officers to go and sometimes the errors we do ,but when they do make them, we investigate and take action,” she said.
Police warned that insisting on unauthorised routes fuels avoidable confrontations.
“In most cases these people are violent, that means people’s properties, shops are going to be looted, vehicles will be vandalized, lives are going to be lost, that is why we should all follow planned routes.” she added.
Referencing recent episodes, Kyasimire said attempts by candidates to divert into unapproved areas led to redirection efforts by police.
“Incidents in Arua and Iganga, police were trying to block the candidates because they were using the wrong routes yet they knew which routes they had to take,” she said.
Police said cases involving brutality, excessive force and fatal shootings are being handled internally, with disciplinary action taken even though most outcomes are not made public.
“Maybe why the public thinks that we do not take action against our officers is because the media will never get to know this information,” she noted.
She dismissed claims of political bias, saying enforcement is uniform across parties.
Regarding the incident in which security forces shot a NUP supporter Meshach Okello dead in Iganga during the campaign trail of NUP presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, police said officers faced “sustained attacks, including stone throwing allegedly incited by the candidate,” injuring several officers and damaging patrol vehicles.
Uganda will hold its General Election on January 15, 2026, to choose the next Parliament and President. Incumbent President Yoweri Museveni who has been in power for four decades seeks to extend his rule for another five years ,which ,if granted ,will make him one of the long serving heads of state in the world .
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