Category: Daily Monitor

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has reaffirmed its political dominance in the Tooro, Rwenzori, and Bunyoro sub-regions following the mayoral and district chairperson elections held on Thursday.

The ruling party swept nearly all district leadership positions, winning 14 of the 17 Local Council Five (LC5) chairperson seats.

In the city mayoral races, independent candidates Rev. Kintu Willy Muhanga and Isingoma Edward emerged victorious in Fort Portal and Hoima cities, respectively. Muhanga polled 11,801 votes, narrowly defeating NRM’s Albert Ahebwa, while Edward won with 11,709 votes (53.75 per cent), defeating incumbent NRM mayor Brian Kaboyo.

Despite losing the city mayoral seats, NRM recorded victories at the district level, with most of its winners being incumbents who retained their seats.

The three districts won by independents, Kikuube, Hoima, and Masindi, were all taken by candidates who had previously lost NRM primaries and remain politically aligned with the ruling party.

“Kintu Willy Muhanga’s victory in Fort Portal City was narrow, but Isingoma Edward’s win in Hoima City was decisive,” said a local analyst.

In Hoima District, Uthuman Mugisa, an independent candidate, polled 25,347 votes, defeating NRM flag bearer Vincent Muhumuza Savana, who came second with 19,541 votes.

Uthuman’s victory marked the second time he has defeated Savana in a general contest.

NRM also registered key wins by new entrants, including in Kabarole District, where Kimome Ruben defeated independent challenger Wilfred Mugabe. Kimome polled 28,371 votes, while Mugabe garnered 14,955 votes.

In Bunyangabu District, NRM candidate Peter Musinguzi defeated incumbent chairperson James Ategeka, who contested as an independent. Musinguzi polled 26,077 votes, defeating Ategeka, who garnered 12,081 votes.

The elections also produced historic back-to-back victories in districts traditionally known for leadership turnover. Eliphaz Bukombi Muhindi retained the Kasese District chairperson seat, while Joseph Karungi secured a second term in Kamwenge District.

“NRM’s victory in these districts is a testament to the party’s strong grassroots presence and its ability to attract talented candidates,” said a local politician.

In Kitagwenda District, NRM’s Efrance Kenyonyozi was declared unopposed, further strengthening the party’s hold on district leadership across the sub-regions.

List of winners

Name

District

Political party

Rev Kintu Willy Muhanga

Fort Portal City

Independent

Mr Peter Musinguzi

Bunyangabu district

NRM

Mr Joseph Karungi

Kamwenge

NRM

Ms Efrance Kenyonyozi

Kitagwenda

NRM

Mr Gilbert Rubaihayo

Kyenjojo

NRM

Mr Kimome Ruben

Kabarole

NRM

Mr Etyen Muhumuza

Ntoroko

NRM

Mr Uthuman Mugisa

Hoima

Independent

Mr Edward Isingoma

Hoima city

Independent

Mr. Eliphaz Bukombi Muhindi

Kasese

NRM

Patrick Wobusobozi

Masindi

Independent

Mr Sentayi Joseph

Kakumiro

NRM

Mr Muhonge Godfrey

Kibaale

NRM

Mr Ndibwami B Yosia

Kagadi

NRM

Mr Noman Birungi

Kyegegwa

NRM

Mr Osaga Nelson

Kiryandongo

NRM

Mr Robert Tibakunirwa

Bundibugyo

NRM

Wandera Atuhaire

Buliisa

Independent

Peter Banura

Kikuube

NRM

Butambala County Member of Parliament Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi has been charged with terrorism days after seven of his supporters were shot dead by security operatives in Butambala District.

Kivumbi, 52, a resident of Buwate Village in Kira Municipality, Wakiso District, was on Friday afternoon arraigned before the Butambala Chief Magistrate Deogratious Ssejjemba following his arrest on Thursday, January 22, 2026.

The prosecution led by Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Rachael Bikhole alleges that between January 11 and January 17, 2026, Kivumbi, together with others still at large, coordinated and carried out a series of violent attacks in Kibibi Town Council and Gombe Town Council in Butambala District.

According to the charge sheet, the accused is alleged to have orchestrated attacks on Kibibi Police Station and the Butambala Electoral Commission tally centre. Prosecutors say the acts were intended to influence government actions and intimidate the public for political or economic objectives.

The prosecution further states that the attacks caused extensive damage to sections of the Butambala-Gomba road and several motor vehicles, including a Toyota Land Cruiser (UBM 614Q), a Ford double cabin (UBH 333U), a Subaru (UBQ 496Z), a Toyota Raum (UAV 378H), and a Toyota Spacio (UAQ 033X).

Seven people are reported to have died as a result of the violence. The deceased were identified as Sarah Naggayi, Aisha Nabukenya, Milly Nampereza, Ruth Nakanjako, Nsamu Abdulnoor, Shafik Miiro, and Davis Basaliza.

Prosecution described the alleged acts as prejudicial to national security and public safety, noting that they were carried out indiscriminately and without regard for civilian life or property.

When produced in court, Kivumbi requested time to consult his lawyers and asked to be allowed access to his phone to contact them. However, Bikhole informed the court that the phone was still being held as an exhibit and remained subject to ongoing police investigations. The court granted a one-hour break.

The magistrate noted that terrorism is a capital offence that is only triable by the High Court, which has original jurisdiction over such grave matters. As a result, Kivumbi was not required to take a plea before the Chief Magistrate’s Court. Under Ugandan law, terrorism carries a maximum penalty of death upon conviction.

Kivumbi will continue to appear before the magistrate’s court for mention as investigations proceed, pending committal to the High Court. He has now been remanded until February 3, 2026.

Kivumbi is among three National Unity Platform (NUP) deputy presidents in detention following the tense January 15, 2026, General Election which has seen thousands of opposition supporters arrested as security operatives say the crackdown will continue. Others include Dr Lina Zedriga, NUP Deputy President for Northern Uganda, and Jolly Jackline Tukamushaba, the party’s Deputy President for Western Uganda.

Hundreds of NUP supporters have been arraigned in court on various charges this week. The state accuses some of them of shouting that “NRM rigged votes” during the January 15, 2026, polls. The party president, Mr Robert Kyagulanyi, is in hiding after escaping a military and police raid at his home in Magerere on the night of January 16.

President Museveni’s son, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who serves as the Chief of Defence Forces, in a series of posts on X, said the military had shot dead 30 NUP supporters he described as terrorists and arrested over 2,000.

“So far, we have killed 30 NUP terrorists. We have arrested over 2,000 hooligans that Kabobi thought would use,” he posted on January 22, 2026.

Jinja City Mayor Peter Okocha Kasolo has lost his seat to Abdulhafidh Nagaya, who polled 17,266 votes, according to the Electoral Commission results declared by Returning Officer Flavia Nakasi.

Nagaya (NRM) defeated Mubaraka Kirunda of National Unity Platform (NUP) who got 15,783 votes. Kasolo came fourth with 850 votes in the contest, which attracted a total of 14 candidates.

Sources attribute Kasolo’s defeat to his formal approach to governance, which voters perceived as aloof.

“When Mr Kasolo assumed office, he began chasing vendors off the streets in an effort to create order in the city. However, many locals viewed this as a witch-hunt against ordinary people, which eventually led to hatred,” a source close to Kasolo said.

Kasolo’s failure to openly criticize the government, despite being elected on the opposition NUP ticket, also hurt him. “He was seen as a betrayal to voters in the opposition stronghold, causing many of his supporters to abandon him,” the source added.

In several instances, Kasolo urged Jinja residents to embrace government projects, saying he was there to guide them on initiatives meant to improve their lives. He also defended the police and Electoral Commission, saying they acted within the law, which further alienated him from voters.

“For me, I have never been arrested since I became Mayor because I followed the law. Those faulting the police and Electoral Commission were trying to mislead them,” Kasolo said in an interview.

Political analyst Meddy Mbentyo cited the denial of the NUP party card to Kasolo as a factor in his defeat.

“If Mr. Kasolo had secured the NUP ticket, he would have remained Mayor, since Jinja City is known for supporting NUP. But the moment he was denied the card, his misfortunes began,” Mbentyo said.

Mbentyo also noted that allegations linking Kasolo to a government money deal worked against his chances of winning.

Despite his defeat, Mbentyo credited Kasolo as having been the best mayor in the history of Jinja City’s leadership.

“Kasolo did not involve himself in any land-grabbing saga in the city. I credit him for organizing Jinja, even though voters did not show appreciation for his work at the polls,” Mbentyo said.

Jinja City NRM Vice Chairman Daniel Musinguzi attributed Kasolo’s loss to limited understanding of multi-party politics among Jinja residents.

“Residents in Jinja do not embrace independent candidates, as enshrined under Uganda’s multi-party political system. In the presidential and parliamentary elections, we saw no independent candidate win. Therefore, it was always going to be difficult for Mr. Kasolo to succeed without a party flag,” Musinguzi said.

Musinguzi noted that supporters of different political parties view independent candidates as opponents, which makes them unlikely to vote for them.

He challenged the secretaries-general of all political parties to sensitize their members, urging them to discourage independent candidates from contesting against official party candidates or, if they do, to learn to work with them as long as they do not affect election outcomes.

Kasolo, who became the city’s first mayor in 2021, was elected on the NUP ticket. Jinja was elevated to city status on July 1, 2020, and is divided into Northern and Southern Divisions.

Uganda’s four-day Internet shutdown, imposed ahead of the presidential and parliamentary elections, has left a deep economic scar, costing the country an estimated Shs57b and disrupting critical digital services that millions of Ugandans rely on daily. Data from the Cost of Shutdown Tool (COST), which estimates the economic impact of Internet disruptions, shows that the blackout, enforced more than 24 hours before polling day, drained nearly Shs15b from the economy each day.

The shutdown, ordered by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) on the directive of security agencies, was justified as a measure to curb alleged online misinformation that authorities feared could trigger electoral violence.

However, analysts and industry players say the economic consequences were severe and largely ignored. For four days, most Ugandans experienced restricted access to mobile Internet. Social media platforms, including WhatsApp, Facebook, and YouTube, were inaccessible, SIM card registration and purchases were halted, and digital financial services were crippled. Mobile money transactions, a cornerstone of Uganda’s cash-lite economy, were among the hardest hit. When contacted on Monday, MoMo Uganda Managing Director Richard Yego said the company was still assessing the impact of the shutdown.

Industry data, however, shows that MTN MoMo alone handles transactions exceeding Shs430b daily, involving millions of low-value payments, most below Shs50,000. These transactions are critical for everyday commerce, especially among low-income households and informal traders. Agent banking services, which enable banks to reach unbanked and remote communities through local agents, were also disrupted. As of 2026, agent banking in Uganda transacts an estimated Shs80.5b per day, an activity that was significantly curtailed during what UCC termed a ‘temporary suspension’ of internet services. According to COST impact reports, the daily economic losses from individual platform shutdowns are substantial, with Facebook and YouTube accounting for more than Shs3.5b per day, while WhatsApp losses exceed Shs7b daily.

Digital businesses count losses

E-commerce players say the shutdown paralysed operations and livelihoods across the digital ecosystem. Mr Steven Lamony, Managing Director of Jumia Uganda and a founding member of the Alliance for Digital Trade, E-Mobility and Couriers Association of Uganda (ADEC(U)), said the effects went far beyond lost sales. ‘Jumia works with over 4,000 daily sellers, many of them low-income earners. During the shutdown, transactions stopped completely, affecting not just the company but thousands of livelihoods,’ Mr Lamony said in an interview.

He added that the company’s distribution network, nearly 100 points outside Kampala, was also brought to a standstill.

‘Our ecosystem supports riders, warehouse workers, suppliers, and logistics staff. All these people lost income during the outage,’ he said, noting that early engagement with stakeholders could have reduced the damage. Mr Lamony argued that assessing the true cost of Internet shutdowns requires looking beyond immediate revenue losses to the wider economic chain.

Public holiday argument disputed

Some security analysts interviewed for this article suggested that the economic impact may have been limited because the shutdown coincided with a public holiday period when many businesses were closed. But Mr Lamony dismissed that argument, saying online platforms typically record increased activity during holidays as customers rely more on convenience and delivery services. ‘People have more time, and demand for online services actually goes up during holidays,’ he said.

Call for a balanced approach

Industry players acknowledge the government’s responsibility to maintain national security during politically sensitive periods, but warn that blanket internet shutdowns are a blunt instrument with far-reaching consequences. According to Mr Lamony, completely switching off the internet ignores the need for nuance and balance. ‘A total shutdown blocks critical services like mobile money and banking, which are now central to the economy,’ he said. ‘A more strategic approach, targeting harmful content while keeping core economic services running, would significantly reduce economic damage.’

As Uganda’s economy becomes increasingly digital, experts warn that repeated internet shutdowns risk undermining investor confidence, slowing financial inclusion, and reversing gains made in e-commerce and digital innovation. For millions of Ugandans whose livelihoods now depend on connectivity, the cost of silence may prove too high to sustain. On Monday, two concerned lawyers sued UCC and the giant telecom companies for the Internet shutdown. The suit, filed in the High Court Civil Division, names UCC, MTN Uganda Limited, Airtel Uganda Limited, and Tangerine Limited trading as Lyca Mobile, alongside other undisclosed actors, as respondents.

The petitioners, Mr Michael Aboneka and Mr Raymond Amumpaire, contend that the shutdown, which took effect during and around polling days, violated constitutional guarantees and caused widespread economic, social, and civic disruption.

In their pleadings, the two advocates argue that the decision to restrict internet access was implemented without transparency, public justification, or adherence to the law governing limitations on fundamental rights. ‘The respondents jointly and severally participated in the interruption of internet-based communication services without lawful authority,’ the petitioners state, adding that the actions affected millions of Ugandans who rely on digital platforms for work, information, and personal communication.

The elections for city mayors, district chairpersons, municipal council mayors and councillors were marked by low voter turn up, and ballot errors that led to suspension of the voting exercise in some districts across the country yesterday. Uncertainty hung over Wakiso District yesterday as voters turned up in low numbers to elect a new district chairperson (LC5) and district councillors, raising questions about voter confidence and participation in local government elections.

The closely watched race for the LC5 seat pits National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Nasif Najja against ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party flag bearer Ian Kyeyune and Democratic Front (DF) contender Flavia Nakafeero. Although Wakiso is widely regarded as an NUP stronghold, the low voter turnout and the presence of an experienced former district chairperson in the race appeared to complicate predictions about the outcome. Mr Kyeyune, who previously served as Wakiso District chairperson, campaigned on a message of reconciliation and experience, arguing that the district needs inclusive leadership to address its growing population and administrative challenges.

In Butebo District, the Electoral Commission (EC) suspended the election of the chairperson and councillors following reports of malpractice, including violence and ballot stuffing. According to the letter seen by the Daily Monitor, signed by the chairperson of EC, Justice Simon Byabakama dated January 22, 2026; the postponement was due to reports of serious interruptions to the electoral process. Sources said violence erupted in several sub-counties as the supporters of opposing candidates fought using sticks and stones, leaving several injured. Elsewhere, voting for the Fort Portal City Female Councillor was cancelled in several wards across the Northern and Central divisions after some polling stations received the wrong ballot papers, while others received ballots that were mixed up in candidates’ details.

The Fort Portal City Returning Officer, MrIsaac Byamugisha, told this publication that the EC cancelled the elections in the affected areas due to the errors. He added that a new voting date would be communicated before February 4. Ms Josephine Komuhimbo, one of the affected female city councillor candidates for Fort Portal City West, expressed disappointment with the EC, saying the mistakes were avoidable since nominations were conducted more than five months ago.

However, the voting in Central and Northern divisions generally experienced delays, largely due to low voter turnout. Out of about 190 polling stations, voting in most centres started after 8am.

Affected areas included Nyabukara, and Rwengoma as well as Central South wards of Bazaar, Kasusu, and Kijanju in Central Division. Ms Josephine Komuhimbo, one of the affected city councillor candidates for Fort Portal City West, expressed disappointment with the EC, saying the errors were avoidable since nominations were conducted over five months ago. In Kagadi District and the greater Kibaale area, including Kakumiro District, candidates for the district chairperson positions expressed concern over the low voter turnout, fearing it could affect election outcomes. Although polling materials were delivered to designated polling centers on time, voting did not start early in some areas due to the absence of witnesses required to flag off the exercise.

In Masaka City, the low voter turnout was prevalent even at polling stations like Fork Land, Bata Cell that have many voters. Mr Jason Erick Ludigo, the presiding officer at Bata Cell LUC to NAKK Polling Station said only 62 voters had cast their votes by noon out of 475 registered at the polling station.

At Kirumba Health Centre II M-NAL polling station, only 31 out of 460 voters had shown up by noon. In Lyantonde District, two independent district LCV contenders – Cleophas Tukamarwa, a former journalist and James Nemeye, a businessman pulled out of the race on election day ,leaving NRM’s Moses Ali Ssemanda and NUP’s Edward Kateregga to tussle it out .

Mr Salim Asiimwe, a NUP supporter attributed the low voter turnout to voter fatigue. ‘Many people here voted for their candidates and were not announced winners .So, they feel it is now useless to take part in another round of election where they don’t expect to fairness,’ he said

Mr Imon Tusiime, the district returning officer said: ‘When the BVVK machines failed to work in some sub-countries during presidential and parliamentary election, we got a technical person who helped to fix them and all are now working at all the 144 polling stations.’ In Mpigi District, voters in Kammengo Sub-county refused to vote for the direct district councillor following a mix up of party symbols with the bus put against NUP candidate Ronald Kaggwa Kibirige’s name while Joseph Mugatte Kasule of NRM was given an umbrella.

Mr Kasule said the EC officials had apologised for the mix-up and promised to organise fresh elections in the area. In Mukono and Kalangala, several polling stations remained largely deserted throughout the day, raising serious concerns about voter mobilisation and civic education. Mr Moses Nyombi, the chairman of Wantoni Cell in Mukono Municipality, said his constituency has approximately 1,800 registered voters but no voting had taken place by 10am.

At Booma Grounds Polling Station in Kitswamba Town Council, Kasese District, voting began at after 8am after the required quorum of 10 voters to witness the opening of the exercise was not met earlier on, Mr Bonny Mbusa, the presiding Officer, told Daily Monitor that the first voter cast a ballot at 8:45am. By 10:30am, only 20 ballot papers had been issued for the three district chairperson candidates. At St Edward’s Polling Station in Masindi Municipality, which has 472 registered voters, only 52 voters had cast their ballots by midday. The Presiding Officer, Ms Najuko Sumaya, said more than 280 voters had voted by midday during the presidential elections.

At Kihonda Polling Station in Masindi District, with 450 registered voters, only 31 voters had cast their ballots by 11a.m. In Mbale City, the story wasn’t different. In Maluku Ward, industrial City Division, a densely populated suburb, no voter had turned up by 10am. The ward has five polling stations. Mr Henry Nambale, a voter at Malawa Polling Station, said the turn up was very poor due to electoral irregularities that marred last Thursday’s elections. At Bupomboli II Polling Station in Harugale Sub-county, Bundibugyo District, voting began at 7:30am. However, voter turnout was extremely low compared to previous elections. One voter, Ms Doreen Biira, said most people were more interested in the recently concluded presidential and parliamentary elections. ‘There were many irregularities in the recent polls, and this shows that voters’ rights have not been respected.’

Kasese District, which has a total of 1,033 polling stations with 426,390 registered voters, several polling stations had not yet received the minimum quorum of 10 voters required to witness the official opening of the voting exercise by 9am. In Arua, a windy summer atmosphere engulfed most polling stations in Arua City as a few voters trickled in to cast their votes in the morning for the local council elections. Ms Harriet Trimaru, the presiding officer of Arua Central Market O-Z, said: ‘We couldn’t start at 7am because voters were not there. This time, we do not know how the turn up would be because last week the turn up was low. We had 531 voters and those who turned up were 145. I do not know if we can even get 145 voters for this mayoral and councillors elections.’

In Lira City, most polling stations registered low voter’s turnout. At Barapwo Health Centre that has three polling stations, there were only 37 voters by 11:30am.

In Jinja City, the polling stations recorded low voter turnout, with several polling stations reporting no voters hours after opening. Mr Gabriel Ouma, a voter, criticised the government for not declaring a public holiday.

In Kigezi, the low voter turn up was reported in some parts of the sub-region. At Kabale Parents school polling station in Kabale Town, 26 voters out of the 434 registered voters on that polling station had cast their vote by 9:50am. The chairman for Central Division in Kabale Municipality, Mr Sam Arineitwe, said voting for all political heads in the local governments should be conducted on the same day with that of the presidential and parliamentary candidates if the issue of low turn up is to be resolved.

Incidents of chaos

Mr Nicholas Kalanzi, a mayoral candidate for Jinja City, attributed the low turnout to the ugly scenes that followed the presidential and parliamentary elections, as well as general voter disinterest in the process. ‘From our consultations, last week’s events discouraged many voters, and others simply chose not to vote,’ Mr Kalanzi, who votes near the Busoga Kingdom headquarters, said. In Kaliro District, three people, including a polling assistant, were injured when nearly 20 people attacked Bukura-Bwire Polling Station in Namugongo Sub-county yesterday.

Mr Rogers Kiduma, Kaliro Assistant Resident District Commissioner, confirmed the attack, saying assailants seized and marked ballot papers before fleeing. Security was reinforced and fresh ballots issued. Also, at least five people were arrested at different polling stations in Ntungamo District over allegations of ballot stuffing. Ntungamo District Police Commander Joshua Mwesigwa said: ‘Some are polling officials, we also have some agents of candidates and voters themselves…We have arrested the situation and I hope we shall have a very peaceful election.’ Meanwhile election officials yesterday reported cases of ballot staffing irregularities at Kibibi Polling Station in Jinja Northern Division during the mayoral elections. Jinja City Returning Officer, Ms Falvia Nakasi, confirmed the incidents, saying: ‘It is unfortunate that some individuals disrupted the polling process. Police have intervened and are conducting investigations.”

The Uganda shilling depreciated against the US dollar at the end of this week due to a slight pickup in demand for the greenback, reversing its noticeable appreciation at the beginning of the week.

According to the Bank of Uganda, the shilling traded at Shs3,511.91 per US dollar buying and Shs3,521.91 selling on Friday at the opening of the day.

However, at midday, the shilling traded at Shs3,525.18 buying and Shs3,535.18 selling per US dollar, indicating depreciation.

Absa Bank Uganda’s analysis showed that the shilling opened the week trading at Shs3,510 per US dollar and selling at Shs3,520 and traded stronger against the US dollar for most of the week.

Acting Head of Trading at Absa Bank Uganda, Richard Nsubuga, attributed the shilling’s strength to renewed offshore confidence in the post-election outcome and portfolio inflows ahead of the Treasury bond auction.

“The local currency benefited from renewed offshore confidence in the post-election outcome, alongside portfolio inflows ahead of the Treasury bond auction, which attracted strong investor interest-particularly from offshore participants,” Nsubuga said.

Nsubuga explained that buy-side interest intensified as the manufacturing, telecommunications, and energy sectors joined the rally, accelerating dollar depreciation and pushing the shilling to Shs3,430 buying and Shs3,440 selling levels last seen in October 2025.

However, Nsubuga noted that the trend reversed after the auction, with offshore players returning to the market, combined with commodity-related flows and subdued corporate demand, weakening the shilling to trade at Shs3,515 buying and Shs3,525 selling.

“Following the auction, however, offshore players-both unsuccessful bidders and those taking advantage of price dips-returned to the market. This renewed demand, combined with commodity-related flows and subdued corporate demand, reversed the trend, weakening the shilling back trading at Shs3,515 buying and selling at Shs3,525, around the day’s opening levels,” he explained.

Regionally, the Kenyan shilling remained stable, closing the week around KES 129 per dollar, as demand and supply dynamics remained well balanced.

Globally, the US dollar index edged closer to 99, extending its gains for a fourth consecutive session and reaching its highest level in nearly a month.

“The move reflects investor positioning ahead of the December US jobs report, which could offer fresh insights into labor-market conditions and the Federal Reserve’s policy outlook,” Nsubuga explained.

Futures markets are currently pricing in nearly a 90 per cent probability that the Fed will leave rates unchanged at its January meeting, while still expecting at least two rate cuts later in the year.

Over half of Uganda’s 21.6 million registered voters across the country last week lined up at polling stations to elect a President and Members of Parliament (MPs).

However, some of the candidates remained incarcerated, meaning they were unable to cast ballots for themselves, but relied on family members, party officials, and supporters to campaign, mobilise, and protect their votes. Most of the detained aspirants, especially from the Opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) party, were arrested either before nomination or during the campaigns, and remain on remand on charges their leaders and rights groups say were politically-motivated and intended to weaken challengers ahead of the vote.

Among those incarcerated was Mr Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro, the National Unity Platform (NUP) parliamentary candidate for Nakawa East and the party’s deputy spokesperson. He was arrested on September 8, 2025, days before the nomination, and charged with unlawful drills and conspiracy to commit a felony. Mr Mufumbiro has remained on remand since, with his case still pending. Mr Mufumbiro, who sought to replace Mr Ronald Balimwezo, who vacated the Nakawa East seat to contest in the Kampala Lord Mayoral race, contested with Mr Michael Kabaziguruka of People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), Ms Winfred Nakandi (Democratic Front), Mr Moses Okwera Mugisha (Forum for Democratic Change), and the eventual winner, Mr Fred Ruhindi (National Resistance Movement).

Another incarcerated candidate is Samuel Mugeni Makokha, the PFF parliamentary candidate for Busia Municipality, who was arrested last month and remanded to Luzira prison on charges of mistreason allegedly committed between 2023 and 2024.

Mr Kenneth Kato Mufumbiro, Alex’s twin brother and campaign manager, described a parliamentary race in Uganda as ‘very tight’ and ‘only second to the presidential race’. He said they had intensified their grassroots campaigns to secure the NUP card endorsement for the seat; however, within weeks before party endorsement and building momentum on the ground, his brother was arrested, which thrust him directly into the political limelight, a space he wasn’t familiar with.

‘Personally, I wasn’t into elective politics like my twin brother,’ he said on Tuesday. Unlike Alex who has been in politics from as early as his secondary and university days, having contested in internal party elections for the different parties he had served, including FDC’s youth wing and DP as its deputy spokesperson, Kenneth is a novice by all accounts. As per their strategic plan, he said he was to serve as Alex’s official agent but ended up playing several roles, including ‘standing in’ for him.

‘The whole experience was new to me, but the only available option was to push on, given the enthusiasm the voters had shown us. This whole experience came with social, economic and psychological challenges,’ he added.

According to Kenneth, Alex had developed networks given his position and public appeal, which were all dampened by his arrest and incarceration. ‘Initially, a number of our supporters believed he would not be nominated by the Electoral Commission. I personally had to be in all corners of the constituency, which implied that I had to halt my income-generating ventures,’ Kenneth added.

He further revealed that, as per standard practice, candidates make promises on specific issues by coming up with tailor-made interventions which could only be made by Alex, which affected the campaign.

‘Alex is a brand whose shoes were too big to fill. He is a pioneer member of the People Power movement that morphed into the NUP was in charge of ideology before being appointed party deputy spokesperson, and throughout the years, his brand became bigger that his charismatic style of leadership was an uphill task to be matched within three months,’ he said.

Kenneth added that his brother was charged a few weeks before the nomination, and that whereas he had to traverse the constituency, he also had to be at Kanyanya’s Magistrate Court for the ‘illegal drilling’ case and again at the Nakawa Magistrate Court for the ‘inciting people to murder’ case.

Within a three-month period, Kenneth said he has been to both courts ‘over 20 times’, while unsuccessfully trying to seek justice for his twin brother. From a social standpoint, Kenneth says Alex has a very young family. ‘In December, he celebrated his second wedding anniversary; so, while campaigning, I had to be mindful of his young family by offering social support and encouragement. Taking care of his wife and children whilst running a tense campaign was complex.’

Wife campaigns

Makokha’s wife, Ms Jamelia Kaggwa, earlier said running a campaign from behind bars comes with extraordinary legal, logistical, and humanitarian costs. ‘Makokha was stripped not only of his freedom, but ability to mobilise funding and access to his bank accounts, leaving him unable to pay legal fees or sustain his campaign,’ she said. She would later appeal to friends, family, well-wishers, comrades, and supporters for financial support, saying ‘every contribution helps to keep the campaign alive, the message visible, and the hope intact.’

After Mr Makokha lost to NRM’s Sowedi Ismail Mulemya, Mr Makokha’s campaign team conceded defeat, saying: ‘The campaign was unlike any other, fought under the weight of incarceration.’ Mr Makokha’s brother, James Okuku, said the incarceration of their candidate affected their strategy and support structures, including finance and transport, among others. ‘Makokha was the face of the campaign, and after he was arrested and incarcerated, his opponents issued propaganda that he had exited the race,’ Mr Okuku said.

He added that a strategy to thrust their father and former Busia Municipality Mayor, Mr Micheal Mugeni, into the campaign boomeranged as some voters thought he was the one contesting instead of his 46-year-old son. Mr Okuku further explained that on polling day, all their agents conspicuously went missing from 80 polling stations across Busia Municipality, which posed serious logistical challenges as they were forced to find substitute agents at short notice. He also decried the alleged commercialisation of politics, saying on polling day, some of the voters asked for facilitation (transport) to enable them go to the polling stations to vote for their candidate.

Dear Diary,

So there we were, one day into the elections Internet blackout, and Gen Z was walking around Kampala like extras in a post-apocalyptic film. You would think the sun had stopped rising. Meanwhile, us millennials? We were thriving like cockroaches after a nuclear shower. Cue the scene: Election week, and boom, Internet vanishes faster than your motivation on a Monday morning. For five glorious days, Uganda became a time capsule, and the young ones got their first taste of ‘The Golden Age of Actually Having to Use Your Brain.’

My Gen Alpha daughter asked with the existential dread of someone who had just discovered mortality, ‘Mama, what is an SMS?’ An SMS, my dear child, was a 160-character masterpiece. We were minimalists. We said ‘c u l8r’ and people understood. We did not need emojis, we had emoticons made from punctuation marks – :). ‘What will we do without Internet?’ she wailed, like someone had unplugged her oxygen supply. Child, in the ’80s and ’90s, we did not have Internet. No Netflix. No YouTube tutorials on how to breathe properly. We did not have smartphones.

We understood typing ‘S’ by pressing 7 four times, and treated Nokia Snake like Olympic trials. Landlines were for people who worked in ministries. If someone wanted you urgently, they sent a child to your house shouting your government name across the village. We did not have ChatGPT. We memorised notes and passed exams by prayer. We did not Google things. We asked Uncle Charles who ‘knew everything’ (he did not!). Song lyrics? We invented those and sang loudly with our chests. If your rich neighbour had a TV, you watched through their window like a respectful village raccoon. We would stand outside like devoted disciples, waiting for Inspector Derrick.

Here is what this blackout reminded me: You cannot hurt a millennial. We survived Y2K panic (spoiler: nothing happened). We have degrees we do not use. Our music is 95 percent throwback jams. New music just does not hit the same! We have unresolved trust issues, and hobbies that involve suffering. Jogging at 5am. Marriage. We do pain recreationally. So when the Internet went dark and Gen Z had meltdowns about missing TikTok trends, us millennials just shrugged. While Gen Alpha wandered like zombies trying to figure out how to switch on the shower in a smart house, we stocked up on Uganda Waragi because you do not spend on Gold Reserve when staring down five days of nothing but drinking. We are strategic.

Economical. Because we have budgeted for apocalypses before. How did we know what was happening? We would find out eventually. News travelled through aunties, the original algorithm, faster and more accurate than any trending page.

Riots? Please. We went through boarding school where strikes were mandatory extracurricular activities. If you ‘foxed’ (stayed behind while everyone else protested), you were automatically first on the list of ring leaders when the headmaster came looking for names.

We need Millennials 2.0. where we come back and teach these children the old ways. How to navigate without GPS (ask for directions like a human). How to stay without scrolling (just sit there). How to take a photo and not immediately post it (revolutionary concept called experiencing the moment!) Five days without Internet, and this country had a collective identity crisis. Meanwhile, millennials were out here reading old John Grisham Novels. Enjoying the smell of actual books. With pages made of paper. The Internet came back. Gen Z exhaled.

Gen Alpha resumed their YouTube Kids. And us millennials? We just smiled knowingly, battle-hardened warriors. Buffering builds character! At the end of the day, we are the generation that bridged two worlds. We used Nokia 3310 yet know how to clear our browser history. We are fluent in both cursive and emojis. We are the last generation that had a childhood without screens and an adulthood drowning in them. With the Internet back-ish, we are back to pretending we understand what ‘rizz’ means.

A journalist at a local FM radio station in Busia Town has made a surprising transition into politics, winning the district chairperson seat as an independent candidate.

Mr John Charles Namayindi, a news anchor at Voice of Busia FM, secured 38,194 votes, defeating the incumbent and the NRM flag bearer, Stephen Mugeni Wasike, who garnered 28,707 votes.

Namayindi, who lost in the NRM primaries, says he borrowed Shs200,000 to pay his nomination fee.

“I did not have money for nominations and had to borrow the Shs200,000 nomination fee. Today’s victory shows that even without money, people can stand with you,” he said, thanking voters for their support.

The victory was met with cheers and dancing from supporters, who celebrated with a popular local Samia song that calls on families to welcome and entertain visitors. However, Wasike dismissed the election as a sham, citing concerns about possible ballot stuffing.

“This election raises serious concerns about possible ballot stuffing. How can there be more votes cast for the district chairperson than for the women councilors?” he said.

Busia District Returning Officer, Joan Aduru, defended the results, stating that voters have the right to vote in one category of an election without being required to vote for other positions. “The votes cast were valid,” she said, adding that the electoral process was transparent.

Wasike intends to seek redress in court, claiming the election was marred by irregularities. However, other candidates, including Peter Namalwa Sireka (1,125 votes), Geoffrey Wandera (NUP) (2,524 votes), and Ajuma Nabwera (UPM) (808 votes), conceded defeat and pledged to work toward the development of the district.

Namayindi promised to unite residents and focus on improving service delivery, prioritizing roads, education, and access to clean water.

“I will promote teamwork and work to end the cliques, infighting, and divisions that characterized Stephen Mugeni Wasike’s five-year term,” he said.

Supporters celebrated till late into the night, driving Namayindi home in a tipper truck. Former Busia Municipality mayor, Michael Mugeni, praised Namayindi’s win, criticizing Wasike’s tenure for causing conflicts and poor service delivery.

“In five years, Wasike has caused the transfer of over five CAOs and dragged several civil servants to court,” he said, adding that these actions negatively affected service delivery.

Rukungiri District has witnessed a major shift in political power as candidates from the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) swept most positions in the local government elections.

According to declaration forms released by electoral officials, NRM won 30 out of 36 seats, including the district LC5 seat, woman representatives, division, and sub-county directly elected councilors.

The district chairperson seat was taken by NRM’s Charles Andrewson Kateebire, who polled 40,946 votes (52.44 per cent).

“Thank you, Rukungiri people, for voting for me again. I promise you that I will serve you as I did when I was your district chairperson last time,” he told the Monitor after his declaration.

Kateebire, who lost the seat to NRM’s Geoffery Kyomukama in the 2021 general elections, expressed happiness at regaining the seat.

“I am happy that I have regained my seat after 5 years. I do a lot in terms of fighting corruption because you know it very well that I was very serious when it came to fighting corruption in the district,” he said, calling for cooperation and unity among Rukungiri residents.

NRM’s Byaruhanga George Ruraka, who won the elderly seat for males, pledged to advocate for the elderly’s rights.

“I will do everything the elderly ask me to do for them. I have been a Councilor, and now I have gone to the elderly league,” he said, emphasising empowerment programs.

The youth representative seats were also swept by NRM candidates. Ainebyoona Marion won the female youth councillor seat with 308 votes, while Tuwesigye Harmony won the male youth councillor seat with 332 votes.

“I want to use myself and advocate for the rights of youth because we are the majority in our country Uganda,” Ainebyoona said, promising development initiatives.

The NRM party’s dominance marks a significant shift in Rukungiri, formerly an opposition stronghold. The party also won all four parliamentary seats in January 2026.

PFF party won 5 seats, and an independent candidate secured 1 seat.

Voter turnout was low compared to the January 15 presidential and parliamentary polls, with voting conducted via secret ballot and manual registers due to Biometric Voter Verification machine failures.