In a strongly worded statement, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has announced the commencement of an electoral and criminal investigation into the recently concluded Kawempe North by-election. The President expressed deep concern over allegations of electoral malpractices, including ballot paper stuffing, altering results, destroying ballot boxes, and acts of violence and intimidation at polling stations.
The allegations, which emerged from areas such as Kazo-Angola and Mbogo Mosque Zone, suggest that some individuals sought to disrupt the electoral process by preventing certain votes from being counted. President Museveni condemned these actions, stating, “Who destroyed the ballot boxes of 50 polling stations out of 197 in Kawempe North? These are criminal mistakes of the Opposition.”
The President also addressed the role of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) in maintaining peace and security, questioning why the army has been diverted from its primary duties to manage crowds during elections. He highlighted the UPDF’s critical role in combating threats such as the ADF, cattle rustlers in Karamoja, and al-Shabaab in Somalia, emphasizing that their primary mandate is to protect the nation from external and internal threats.
“Uganda is an island of peace in the region because of the UPDF,” Museveni stated. “Why, then, do they get diverted to deal with crowds? It is because of the indiscipline of some opposition groups.”
President Museveni referenced past incidents of unrest, including the 2009 Kabaka riots and the 2020 November riots, where he deployed commandos to restore order. He accused opposition groups of organizing violence and chaos, citing the recent panga attacks in Masaka and the destruction of ballot boxes in Kawempe North as evidence of their indiscipline.
While acknowledging organizational mistakes on the part of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), particularly in failing to work collectively and engage effectively with the electorate, Museveni assured the public that the NRM’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) is addressing these issues. He revealed that a meeting was held last Friday to discuss the matter and implement corrective measures.
The President concluded by warning that the NRM would not tolerate further disruptions to the electoral process. “You have been inviting the NRM to attend to you. We shall do exactly that,” he declared.
The investigation into the Kawempe North by-election is expected to uncover the individuals responsible for the alleged malpractices and provide recommendations to prevent future occurrences. The public has been urged to remain patient and cooperative as the probe unfolds.
