In a dramatic turn of events, top officials from the National Unity Platform (NUP) and journalists were violently attacked by security forces while investigating allegations of ballot pre-ticking in Kawempe North.
The incident, which unfolded in Nammere, has sparked outrage and raised serious questions about the integrity of the upcoming by-election.
The NUP delegation, led by Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya, Leader of Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi, and flag bearer Erias Nalukoola Luyimbazi, stormed a heavily guarded residential home after receiving credible intelligence about illegal activities.
What they encountered was chaos and violence.
“We Were Beaten, Equipment Seized”: Journalists Bear the Brunt
As the NUP team forced their way into the compound, soldiers and armed individuals in civilian clothes unleashed a brutal assault.
Rubongoya was seriously beaten, while vehicles belonging to Ssenyonyi and Nalukoola were pelted with stones and shattered.
Journalists covering the incident were not spared. Steven Kibwiika, a camera operator for Spark TV, suffered severe injuries and was rushed to the hospital.
His equipment was confiscated, further stifling efforts to document the unfolding scandal.
NUP Demands Answers: “Is the Electoral Commission in Charge?”
In the aftermath of the violence, Joel Ssenyonyi issued a stern demand for clarity from the Electoral Commission.
“We need a statement from the EC to confirm if they are truly in charge of this by-election,” he declared.
The incident has cast a dark shadow over the electoral process, with NUP accusing the government of orchestrating voter fraud and using brute force to suppress opposition voices.
As tensions escalate, the Kawempe North by-election is now under intense scrutiny. The alleged ballot pre-ticking scandal, coupled with the violent response from security forces, has ignited fears of a compromised electoral process.
With NUP vowing to push for accountability, the coming days could prove pivotal for Uganda’s democratic integrity.
