The government has distanced itself from the acts of violence witnessed during the recent Kawempe North by-elections, stating that the brutality against citizens was not state-sanctioned.
Speaking on behalf of the government, Minister of Trade for Industries, David Bahati, condemned the attacks and assured the public that those responsible would be held accountable.
Bahati’s remarks were in response to complaints from Opposition Members of Parliament, who protested against the reported violence and arbitrary arrests during the campaign period. The opposition has accused security forces of excessive force, a claim the government has neither confirmed nor denied.
However, former Leader of Opposition, Mathias Mpuuga, dismissed the government’s position, warning that the violence seen in Kawempe was just a glimpse of what awaits Ugandans in the 2026 general elections. Mpuuga questioned the heavy security deployment in a by-election, suggesting it signaled state interference.
“The Kawempe by-election is a rehearsal of hard times ahead of us. I pray I will be around to remind this House that acquiescing with violence and state brutality will not help anybody,” Mpuuga stated.
He also rejected the government’s promise to address the concerns on March 6, 2025, insisting that no rational justification exists for military presence in an election.
As tensions rise, political analysts warn that if such incidents persist, Uganda’s path to the 2026 elections could be marred by further unrest.