The Kawempe North by-election has joined a growing list of Uganda’s most violent electoral contests, following in the footsteps of by-elections in Arua Municipality, Bugiri and the Kayunga LC5, where security forces cracked down on opposition politicians and their supporters.
As seen in other opposition strongholds, state security agencies descended on Kawempe North last week, armed with guns, batons, electric wires and wooden sticks. The Uganda Police Force, Special Forces Command (SFC), Joint Anti-Terrorism Task Force (JATT), and Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) were all involved in violent confrontations with civilians, raising serious human rights concerns.
At the heart of the violence was JATT, whose masked and heavily armed operatives carried out a brutal crackdown on opposition supporters, journalists and campaign teams. Several opposition supporters were arrested, beaten, and kicked, while others were violently dispersed ahead of planned rallies.
Reports of physical assaults, arbitrary arrests and intimidation have created a climate of fear, discouraging many from participating in political campaigns. If this pattern of state repression continues, voter turnout among the 190,000 registered voters in Kawempe North could be significantly affected on election day.
The role of JATT in election crackdowns
Originally established under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2002 to combat the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), the Joint Anti-Terrorism Task Force (JATT) was designed to handle counterterrorism operations. However, its recent involvement in election-related violence has sparked growing controversy.
According to The Observer’s investigations, JATT draws personnel from the Internal Security Organization (ISO) and the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI). Despite repeated government denials of its role in election violence, the unit continues to operate alongside other security agencies, using state resources, including military vehicles. During the Kawempe North by-election, JATT was directly implicated in the arrest and intimidation of opposition figures.
On nomination day, Charles Sserubiri, the Kawempe North mobilization chairman, was arrested while in possession of the nomination documents for National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Erias Luyimbazi Nalukoola.
His detention delayed Nalukoola’s nomination, a move widely perceived as a calculated effort to frustrate the opposition. Even after securing his nomination, Nalukoola and several of his supporters were assaulted by JATT operatives. Journalists covering the election also faced violent repression.
Miracle Ibra, a journalist with Top TV, was severely beaten and later hospitalized at Nsambya hospital.
Weapons used in the Kawempe North crackdown
Security experts analyzing the events in Kawempe North identified a wide range of firearms and non-lethal weapons used in the security operation.
Among the firearms spotted were:
CZ Scorpion Evo 3: Manufactured in the Czech Republic, the Scorpion Evo 3 is a 9mm carbine designed for close-quarters combat.
It is lightweight, compact, and features an ambidextrous select-fire switch, allowing the operator to choose between safe, semi-automatic, three-round burst, or fully automatic modes.
First released in 2009, it is widely used in military and law enforcement operations.
IWI Galil Ace: Manufactured in Israel and the United States by Israel Weapon Industries (IWI), this rifle was also spotted during the campaigns. It is an assault and battle rifle available in three calibers: 5.56×45mm, 7.62×39mm and 7.62×51mm.
Designed for reliability and accuracy under harsh battlefield conditions, the Galil Ace has been adopted as a service rifle by multiple countries, including the Chilean Army and the People’s Army of Vietnam.
M16 Rifle: Originally developed in the United States and later manufactured in Ukraine, the M16 is an assault rifle chambered for the 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge. The original model featured a 20-round magazine and was designed for automatic fire.
Over the years, the M16 has undergone various modifications and remains one of the most widely used firearms globally.
AK-200: This modern AK rifle family is an improved version of the AK-100 series. First unveiled in 2017 as the “AK-100M” series, it was officially renamed the AK-200 series in 2018.
The AK-200 variants feature updated ergonomics and enhanced performance, making them a popular choice among security forces.
AK-47: Commonly known as the Avtomat Kalashnikova, the AK-47 is a Russian-made assault rifle chambered for the 7.62×39mm cartridge. First developed in the late 1940s, the AK-47 and its variants remain among the most widely used firearms worldwide, valued for their durability, simplicity and reliability.
Batons: The cylindrical clubs made of wood, rubber or plastic were identified during the crackdown on opposition supporters. Some officers were also seen using sticks and electric cables.
Solid-core wires: Commonly known as building wire or house wire, solid-core wires are widely used in electrical installations. They are typically made of copper with PVC insulation and are categorized by their gauge number, usually ranging from 12 and above, depending on the required amperage for the circuit.
However, security agencies have increasingly used solid-core wires as instruments to suppress protests and opposition activities. Several officers were seen carrying solid wires during the ongoing campaigns ahead of the Kawempe by-election.
A tense political climate ahead
With security forces tightening their grip on opposition activities, many residents and political observers fear that the upcoming vote may not be free or fair. The heavy deployment and violent suppression of opposition voices suggest an attempt to control the outcome through intimidation rather than democratic engagement.
Despite these challenges, opposition leaders remain defiant, calling on their supporters to show resilience and turn up in large numbers on election day. Even before election activities officially began on February 21, 2025, security forces raided the National Unity Platform (NUP) headquarters in Makerere-Kavule and its school of Leadership in Kamwokya.
Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LoP) Joel Ssenyonyi condemned the raid, stating that security operatives forcibly evacuated all staff before breaking into the offices.
“After sending away all our staff and everyone present at the premises, the military broke into the NUP offices in Kavule and the NUP School of Leadership in Kamwokya simultaneously,” Ssenyonyi revealed.
He warned that the absence of party officials during the raid created an opportunity for security agencies to plant evidence or later claim to have found incriminating materials against the opposition. The Uganda Police Force, however, justified the operation, alleging that unauthorized military training was taking place at the NUP premises.
“Following reports of illegal military drills at the National Unity Platform (NUP) headquarters in Kavule and their premises in Kamwokya, the Uganda Police Force, in collaboration with other security agencies, conducted a coordinated security operation,” the police statement read.
Government defends security crackdown
Amid growing reports of state repression and violent arrests, State Minister for Internal Affairs David Muhoozi defended the government’s role in the by-election, insisting that authorities sought to ensure a clean, transparent and safe process.
“A number of incidents have been registered in the course of the ongoing Kawempe North by-election-related activities,” Muhoozi stated.
The minister confirmed that 24 people had been arrested, including Makindye East MP Derick Nyeko and Kyadondo East MP Muwada Nkunyingi. He accused them of various breaches of the law, including alleged illegal use of military gear by some opposition members.
“Those arrested will be charged in courts of law. Additionally, in collaboration with the military and other security agencies, we will propose the publication of gazetted uniforms and official gear to prevent civilians from using military attire,” Muhoozi said.
Meanwhile, the minister of state for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives David Bahati announced that the government would cover medical bills for Top TV journalist Miracle Ibra, who was severely beaten while covering the security crackdown.
Stephen Kibwika, another journalist, was forced to delete footage capturing security forces violently dispersing NUP supporters.
Government denies JATT’s role in election violence
On March 4, 2025, during a plenary session, Minister David Bahati denied any state-sanctioned violence in Kawempe North, dismissing claims that the government was backing the brutality witnessed 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 during elections should be held accountable,” Bahati said.
He further insisted that the NRM-led government remains committed to protecting democracy, claiming it has done everything possible to ensure free and fair elections.
“We will continue to safeguard the peace and freedom ushered in by the National Resistance Movement (NRM). Ugandans should be able to elect their leaders in a free environment, and we will not tolerate acts of violence,” he added.
In a strong defense of security operations, Maj. Gen Felix Kulayigye, the director for Defense Public Information, asserted that the Joint Anti-Terrorism Task Force was legally established and operates within its mandate.
Kulayigye argued that security forces had to intervene in Kawempe North after reports that NUP supporters had attempted to over-power law enforcement officers.
“We have seen individuals in red attire previously involved in petrol bomb incidents in Nabweru. We have also witnessed attempts to disarm security personnel. In such an environment, should security forces be relaxed?” Kulayigye questioned.
According to him, Uganda Police requested UPDF support when NUP supporters overwhelmed law enforcement officers.
“It wasn’t a failure of the police, but they were challenged. Did you want the Wandegeya DPC to be overrun? We are dealing with individuals who are using a political party as a cover for activities that threaten national security,” he added.
MPs question deployment of hooded security operatives
In a fiery parliamentary debate, Tororo district Woman MP Sarah Opendi condemned the violent treatment of opposition candidates, arguing that security forces were suppressing democracy rather than protecting it.
“A prospective MP can be nominated and then pulled off a motorbike, thrown to the ground—this is unacceptable. We cannot allow such incidents to happen under an NRM government, which we all thank the President for leading. Who are these officers?” Opendi asked.
She further criticized Acting Maj. Gen Felix Kulayigye. She demanded to know the identities of the mysterious hooded security personnel involved in violent crackdowns.
“How can security forces not know who these people are? How do individuals have guns, carry sticks, beat Ugandans, and yet no one arrests them? Worse still, they continue with these actions. If they are not criminals, why do they cover their faces? Why don’t they want to be seen by Ugandans?” she questioned.
Mpuuga, Ssekikubo warn of declining democracy
Nyendo-Mukungwe MP Mathias Mpuuga also expressed outrage over the government’s response, calling the deployment of hooded officers a major threat to democracy.
“Somebody simply dropped a statement on the minister’s desk. Let him explain whether the actions in Kawempe were punishments or retribution. If so, let him educate us on their legality, given the presence of an illegal military parade in the area,” Mpuuga challenged.
He further demanded to know whether the Electoral Commission (EC) had formally requested security backup from JATT.
“If the EC is constrained, they can formally request security backup. Has the EC done so? If yes, why was another security agency involved instead?” he asked.
Lwemiyaga MP Theodore Ssekikubo warned that the Kawempe North by-election was setting a dangerous precedent.
“This is not just about Kawempe. It affects all responsible members of society. The government must explain who deployed JATT and why. That is the starting point,” Ssekikubo said.
Eye witnesses now say that its was those short black guns that were used by Kiggundu and Kaweesi`s assassins
It has also been revealed that information was leaked to the so called foot soldiers of NUP that JATT was going to be deployed with orders to savagely PROVOKE Nup crowds into a fight , something that would detonate a massacre. NUP suppoters avoided that trap. (That explains why no stones were thrown as it happened in Arua)
Already , the regime had sent out its operators and propagandists on talk shows , to prepare the public for what they thought was about to happen
Fool Figure , Nalweyiso , Rwomushana , Gashumba , Kulayigye and many others were on all talk shows saying the same thing: now thatNUP has prepared an army in red overalls , they will be responsible for the violence that will happen in Kawempe.
There is a plan to rig the elections in Kawempe , which will be followed by more violence and kidnappings.
JUST WONDERING: is it me or is Observer having some technical issues !?
Honestly NRM with all those seats in Parliament is not satisfied and is ready at any cost to do mayhem/exterminate law abiding citizens. What a shame I saw Kabanda on TV exposing how narrow minded he is. How does a whole President go so low as to engage himself in this campaign. And they think the country will gobble all these lies may be only those brain washed diehards.
When you decide to go out and campaign you forget your position and you go as any other ordinary person. So there was no need to make special concessions for the President. When you go to Rome you do as the Romans do. That was another way of intimidating NUP supporters. All this shame on NRM. one day you will be pure satanic history