A section of candidates contesting for political office in Rukungiri District have raised alarm over alleged threats to their lives, attacks on campaign staff and widespread destruction of campaign posters, ahead of the January 2026 elections.
The complaints were raised by Ingrid Turinawe of the opposition People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) party and Dr Wallen Nuwagaba, an independent candidate, who are both contesting for the Rukungiri Municipality parliamentary seat against General (Rtd) Henry Tumukunde of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party.
‘I have been receiving threatening messages from one of my political competitors. On my nomination day, he provoked me in public and I kept quiet. Two days ago, co-ordinator one Dickson Nampumuza was badly beaten by the same candidate. Yesterday I was followed by close people of the same candidate up to my home,’ Turinawe told a press conference held at her home in Western Division of Rukungiri Municipality on December 20, 2026.
‘All these actions put my life at a great risk. It is from this point that I want to ask the police and other security agencies to come to my rescue before the situation gets out of human control because I may lose my life,’ she added.
Turinawe said several of her campaign posters had been defaced or stolen, describing the damage as costly and deliberate.
‘Some of her campaign posters have also been defaced and they are very expensive so I ask the police to quickly intervene,’ she said.
The opposition activist listed three large billboards at the Rukungiri town roundabout among those destroyed, while posters in Marumba Kyatooko, Omukareere, Rwentondo, Katoobo, Bwoom and Nyakibale were allegedly removed.
‘I think my opponents are behind the defacing of her posters but I want to inform them that I can’t be intimidated by such actions,’ Turinawe added.
Other candidates whose posters were reportedly defaced include Midius Kaharata, an independent candidate for Rukungiri Woman MP, Betty Muzanira of PFF, and Mary Paula Turyahikayo of NRM.
Dickson Nampumuza, a PFF candidate for Western Division directly elected councillor, alleged he was assaulted by supporters of Gen Tumukunde.
‘On December 18, 2025, as I was returning home from my campaigns I was badly beaten by a group of people from Rtd Lt Gen Tumukunde team because of supporting Ingrid Turinawe,’ Nampumuza said.
‘After being beaten, they stole my phones and they also left their cap at the scene of crime. I later went to the police and reported the matter. After reporting, I was advised to go for medical treatment,’ he added.
Police said they had opened investigations.
‘We have started investigations of the matter but I want to assure the public that their security is guaranteed and we shall make sure peace and order is maintained within the district during and after elections,’ Rukungiri District Police Commander SSP Brian Ampire said.
The case of simple robbery was registered at Rukungiri Central Police Station under reference SD REF 78/17/12/2025.
Efforts to obtain comment from Tumukunde’s campaign team were unsuccessful by press time Sunday morning.