By Aggrey Baba
In the charged political battleground of Kawempe North, the air was thick with both anticipation and teargas as National Unity Platform (NUP) leaders and supporters faced off with security forces during a campaign rally.
What began as an enthusiastic march on Monday quickly spiraled into chaos, exposing the deepening tensions between the opposition and state security.
By midday, the NUP camp, led by party president Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, and their flagbearer Erias Luyimbaazi Nalukoola, had mobilized supporters at their headquarters in Kavule. Dressed in their symbolic red overalls and berets, they prepared to march towards Kawempe town in a show of political strength, aiming to rally support ahead of the crucial by-election.
However, their plans were interrupted when security forces, including the Uganda Police Force, Joint Anti-Terrorism Unit (JAT), and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), swiftly intervened, blocking the procession before it could gain momentum.
What followed was a familiar script of confrontation. Teargas canisters hissed through the air, sending people scrambling for cover, while police officers wielding batons pursued supporters. In the ensuing chaos, several people sustained injuries, while others were arrested.
Those caught in the chaos decried excessive force, with some supporters seen helping their colleagues out of the smoke-filled streets, while others lay on the ground in distress.
At one point, security personnel stormed the campaign venue in Kawempe Kuttaano, dispersing the crowd before later withdrawing and allowing the campaigns to resume. Despite the setbacks, Kyagulanyi and Nalukoola pressed on, addressing those who had gathered to hear their message.
Kyagulanyi, in his characteristic defiant tone, condemned what he termed as “state-sponsored persecution” of the opposition, accusing gov’t of employing intimidation tactics to suppress dissent. “The only crime we have committed is daring to challenge the dictatorship. They block our campaigns, beat our people, and arrest them in broad daylight. Meanwhile, the NRM candidate moves freely without interference,” he said.
He defended Nalukoola’s selection as NUP’s flagbearer, emphasizing that the party’s vetting process had been rigorous and fair. “The Electoral Management Committee (EMC) carried out a thorough vetting process, and in the end, Nalukoola stood out as the best candidate. This is not about individuals but about the struggle for a better Uganda,” Kyagulanyi declared.
Nalukoola echoed these sentiments, pledging to fight for the people of Kawempe North and ensure they receive fair representation. “As NUP, we are committed to building a Uganda that is peaceful and cares about its people. This by-election is about giving power back to the people,” he said.
While the opposition wrestled with security forces, the ruling party’s candidate, Faridah Nambi, spent her campaign day in the slums of Kanyanya and Mpererwe, freely engaging residents on key issues affecting their daily lives.
Her campaign activities went on without any police interference, further highlighting the stark difference in how the two camps were treated.
“I know many of you belong to the opposition, but I appeal to you to consider voting for a leader who understands your struggles. Kawempe needs solutions to its problems like lack of schools, sanitation issues, and unaffordable rent. That’s what I bring to the table,” Nambi told residents, as she freely moved through the community.
The Kawempe North by-election, triggered by the death of former MP Muhammad Ssegirinya, has drawn a crowded field of contenders.
Apart from NUP’s Nalukoola and NRM’s Nambi, the race features Henry Kasacca Mubiru (DP), Khalifah Aganaga (FDC), and Ismail Musitwa (PPP). Several independent candidates have also thrown their hats in the ring, including Muhammad Luwemba Luswa, Hanifah Karadi, Muhammad Mutazindwa, Moses Nsereko, and Stanley Edward Maitum Engena, son of former President Milton Obote.
With voting day approaching, the intensity of the campaigns continues to build, and the events of yesterday hint at a fiercely contested election. Whether the people’s voice will truly be heard amid the chaos, or state intimidation dictates the outcome, remains to be seen. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
