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The Government stated that the brutality meted out against citizens in Kawempe North by-elections is not state-sanctioned
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By Our Reporter
Parliament
The government has distanced itself from the acts of violence witnessed during the recent Kawempe North by-election campaigns, stating that the brutality meted out against citizens is not state-sanctioned. Authorities have vowed to hold the perpetrators accountable for their actions.
The remarks were made by David Bahati, the Minister of Trade and Industries, while speaking on behalf of the government in response to complaints raised by Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) regarding the arrests and violence that occurred during the campaign period.
"We stated last week that there is no state-sponsored violence in these elections. The state has not sanctioned this, and those responsible for harming people should be brought to book," Bahati said.
"As the government, we are committed to ensuring that citizens enjoy the freedom ushered in by the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and elect their leaders in a peaceful environment. We shall continue to guard against this violence to ensure free and fair elections," he added.
Minister David Bahati
However, Mathias Mpuuga, the MP for Nyendo-Mukungwe and former Leader of the Opposition, dismissed Bahati’s remarks, arguing that individuals accused of election-related violence in the past have not been held accountable.
"From the last elections, those who committed crimes against citizens have never been brought to book. The man who shot journalist Ashraf Kasirye is well known and well documented. Kasirye is now in exile in the US, yet his shooter was promoted. We need to be honest with ourselves and confront this reality," Mpuuga stated.
Concerns over 2026 general elections
Mpuuga further warned that the violence seen in Kawempe North is a sign of what Ugandans should expect in the 2026 general elections. He also criticized the government’s justification for military presence in the by-election, stating that there is no rational explanation for deploying soldiers during an election.
"The Kawempe by-election is just a rehearsal for the difficult times ahead of us. I will remind this House that accepting violence and state brutality will not help anyone," Mpuuga noted.
He also accused the Electoral Commission (EC) of being disempowered and unable to enforce electoral laws, urging Parliament to stop pretending that Uganda is operating under a true democratic system.
Former Leader of Opposition, Mathias Mpuuga
"The Electoral Commission is powerless; they can do nothing. If we are serious about building democracy, we must acknowledge the reality. If the government does not want elections, they should declare martial law instead of pretending," he added.
Allegations of impunity
Mpuuga expressed concern over what he described as rising impunity and disregard for the rule of law, arguing that state institutions have normalized human rights violations.
"Illegality and impunity have been accepted as the norm. As long as someone has power, they believe they can get away with anything, even murder," he lamented.
An NUP supporter shows damage to his foot (NUP Photo)
The MP also criticized the government for failing to address the issue of missing persons, despite previous demands for an official statement in Parliament.
"You ordered the Minister to report on missing Ugandans, but nothing has been done. What about the violence in Kawempe? Some heads were beaten, a few skulls were broken, and the day passed as usual. This Parliament, which should be the country’s firewall, is simply looking on and lamenting," Mpuuga remarked.
The Kawempe North by-election has been marred by allegations of violence, intimidation, and arbitrary arrests, raising concerns about the credibility of Uganda’s electoral processes. Opposition leaders and civil society organizations continue to call for greater accountability and transparency in electoral management ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Torch Media Africa
