By Jako David Waluluka
The blunt beaten, arrests and cases of malpractice in the just concluded and now contested Kawempe North by election , have exposed the unreadiness of the Uganda Electoral Commission to hold the magnitude of the forth coming general election of 2026.
From the onset of the nomination period, the then National Unity Platform flag bearer now member of parliament Erias Luyimbazi Nalukoola, was one of the first people to test the wrath of the uncompromising combined security network in the area.
Nalukoola, signaled out the Joint Anti-Terrorism Task Force (JATT) which specializes in counter terrorism operations.
JATT is a pool of specially selected personnel from the Internal Security Organization (ISO) and the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI).
Media affiliate Miracle Ibra, a journalist with Top TV, was severely beaten and later hospitalized at Nsambya Hospital and will live to tell the tale for a long time to come.
Initially believed to have been an isolated incident, which ended with his and supporters brief incarceration at Kawempe police station , it was a tip of the iceberg.
NUP leaning Members of Parliament Makindye East MP Derrick Nyeko and Kyadondo East MP Nkunyingi Muwadda, were among the 24 persons arrested on that fateful day, following violent clashes between NUP supporters and security forces.
Whilst those in the know had anticipated the floggings would on zero on elements of the opposition, supporters of Hajat Hanifah Murerwa Karadi, an independent but NRM leaning candidate also started complaining of the same.
Karadi, pointed the finger at a one major Emma,, whom she alleged was affiliated to the NRM official Flag Bearer Faridah Nambi Kigongo , at the time was commandeering the dreaded drones flogging chambers .
As the campaigns gained momentum so did reports arrests , drone rides, thumpings and yes roving foot patrols .
As these operations escalated the Electoral Commission headed by Justice Byabakama ,would only do as much as release a media statement condemning the same without concrete intervention on the ground to avert the same.
In his official statement concerning the Kawempe by election mess, President Museveni said that ; I am writing to inform you that an electoral and criminal investigation has started in the Kawempe North by-election.
The following allegations have come up: ballot papers stuffing, altering results, destroying ballot boxes in Kazo-Angola, Mbogo Mosque zone, etc., because, apparently, some people did not want those votes to be counted, campaigning at the polling stations, intimidation, violence, etc.
The heavy deployment of security forces may have stopped mass violence, but it could not stop these micro crimes that should have been managed by the election officials.
Some People really miscalculate. To think that you can commit such crimes against the law and the people when the NRM is in charge of the country is the highest form of shallowness. We shall hold everybody accountable.
Those who intimidate NRM supporters must stop and apologize to those you intimidate. Those of the language: “yemwe abatusibyeko NRM”, must stop. Respect the Ugandans’ choices.
Ballot-stuffing has been going on since 1961. That is how Uganda ended up being unstable. Leaders do not concentrate on solving people’s problems because they know they can cheat and be in power whether the people support them or not. This will stop.
That is why we are insisting on only bio-metric verification. Nobody else who is not bio-metrically verified will vote. I hope all the Ugandans who want peace will support this. It must be one person, one vote. Somebody was arrested with 18 ballot papers.
This statement affirms Museveni’s displeasure with the EC and thus points out to a ‘house cleaning’ reshuffle in offing if at all time allows for this miracle.
The reign of terror unleashed on members of the fourth estate will forever be remembered vividly by Mr. Abubaker Lubowa,Raymond Tamele, Denis Kabugo, Francis Isiano,, Hakim Wampamba among others .
Whether the media will freely engage itself in the forth coming 2026 general election , is a matter best suited for individual media owners and journalists .
