Police are investigating an attempted break-in at the Mukono Electoral Commission (EC) offices over the weekend, in which assailants reportedly targeted ballot boxes for Mukono North Constituency.
According to security sources, the attack appeared aimed at tampering with the ballot boxes to create grounds for a court petition seeking a recount.
The returning officer, Emily Amongin, had last week declared Abudallah Kiwanuka of the National Unity Platform (NUP), the incumbent, winner of the January 15, 2026 parliamentary elections with 15,017 votes, beating former minister Ronald Kibuule of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), who garnered 11,176 votes.
Police spokesperson Rachael Nakiwala confirmed the attempted attack, saying officers acted swiftly to prevent the suspects from entering the premises.
‘Our officers responded in time and successfully blocked the suspects from entering the Electoral Commission offices,’ Nakiwala said.
The situation was tense because the offices were in total darkness, according to authorities.
District Police Commander Benard Mugerwa reportedly led the response and blocked the suspects, while officers continued patrolling the area after the electricity supply to the premises was cut off.
On Monday, all elected members of parliament from Mukono district held a joint press conference condemning the attempted break-in.
‘We strongly condemn this attack and any attempts to interfere with the electoral process,’ one of the MP elects said.
The incident follows a controversial announcement last week by Amongin regarding the Mukono district LCV chairperson elections.
She initially declared Johnson Muyanja Ssenyonga of NUP the winner at around 3:00 pm, with 51,686 votes, defeating Francis Lukooya Mukoome of NRM, who received 50,254 votes, and independent Lauben Ssenyonjo, who got 2,995 votes.
Later, NRM leaders, led by District NRM chairperson Haruna Ssemakula, stormed the EC office shortly after Muyanja’s declaration.
They held Amongin in a separate room for several hours before she announced Lukooya as the winner, with 52,523 votes, while Muyanja received 52,105 and Ssenyonjo 3,095 votes.
Local NUP officials insist that Muyanja’s victory was legally obtained and vowed to defend it.