The newly declared Kawempe North Legislator, Elias Luyimbazi Nalukoola of the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP), attributed his victory to brutality, intimidation of electorates, and bloodshed to many of his supporters.
“Our win was overshadowed by the mockery of democracy, manifested by militarization of our electoral process, brutality, and intimidation, but we managed to win with unmatched courage,” he said
The March 13, heated by-election saw Mr Henry Makabayi, the Kampala District Returning Officer declare Mr Nalukoola as the new Kawempe North MP-elect, winning with 17,764 votes at 64.37 percent of the total vote cast, defeating the Ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) Ms Faridah Nambi who was second with 8,593 votes (31.2 percent) and other eight candidates.
He said that the combat vehicles and armoured personnel carriers, who were manifested in Kawempe North elections day, were meant to be in war zones or guard Uganda’s borders, citing it was unfair to parade them inside polling stations, with the aim of scaring voters to vote for NRM candidate, the trick that failed to work.
“Goons, shielded by armed forces, brutalised citizens for exercising their civic duty. Yet, you cast your votes and guarded them fiercely, frustrating their attempts to silence your voices. This is the spirit we must carry into the general elections,” he said.
Last week, Mr Muhoozi Kainerugaba Chief of Military Forces on his X formerly Twitter, praised a picture of Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) officers, who were filmed on the motorbike, covering their faces with black masks, believed to have been behind the brutality on the election’s day, Instead, Muhoozi tweeted, “the best picture I have seen all the week, I will look for this soldier and promote him,” adding, “I got his name and rank, tomorrow I am promoting him for the excellent of service to UPDF.”
Nalukoola tasked all security officers who brutalised people during the course of the election to be brought to courts of law for being accountable for their alleged crimes that include violating human rights not rather promoting them Muhoozi promised.
“Security forces have neither acknowledged their wrongdoing nor held their officers accountable. Instead, they seek to reward those who brutalized journalists and our supporters. If you are proud of these actions, reward them publicly. Let us see the faces of those who “serve” through violence,” he recommended.
“Museveni’s legacy, born from a guerrilla war against election malpractices, now perpetuates the same injustices. His party threatens a legal battle against our victory, shamelessly accusing us of rigging despite overwhelming evidence. But if we triumph amidst their violence, we will defeat them in court. What they are playing is reverse psychology. We will defend this victory with every legal means available,” he said.
Mr Joel Ssenyonyi, the Leader of the opposition, addressing journalists on Monday tasked the entire Electoral Commission (EC) to come out and explain to the country the shortcomings that befall on election day.
“We are putting on the spot Justice Simon Byabakama, the EC chairperson, to come out clearly and provide answers to the wondering general public, their silence makes us worry whether they were in charge of the election or they were instead influenced,” he said.
Adding: “There are answers we need immediately for EC, on high levels of human rights violations on innocent people and journalists, we demand answers, in the history of Uganda we have never witnessed such a devastating moment.”
Mr Kyagulanyi, NUP president condemned the interference by government officials in the peaceful electoral proves, stating that they demined the integrity and core values of what they were expected to be doing, Including Kampala Minister, Ms Minasa Kabanda, the State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs Mr Baram Barugahara, Uganda’s Prime Minister Ms Robina Nabanja, and Many Resident District Commissioners (RDC).
“We used the Kawempe North by-election as the official launch of the protest vote, we are now more than ready for the 2026 General Election, and we shall implement the values of unity as we exhibited in this era, I call upon all interested people to take up positions at all levels starting from LC1, we are taking the presidency we should remain united.”