Category: Daily Monitor

On Tuesday evening, I had a crucial virtual meeting via Teams (the alternative to Zoom) with the head of the Africa programme at the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) of the United States of America.

FSI is a training arm of the State Department of the US government. For some years now, I have served as an outside, contracted instructor for FSI, whose remit is to provide refresher courses and advanced training for American diplomats and civil servants preparing to work on foreign affairs abroad and at home.

Shortly after this meeting ended, at about 6pm, I urgently needed to send an email, but the email account was not loading. I could not figure out why. After repeated failed attempts, I took a break, assuming I would return later in what turned out to be misplaced hope that whatever was wrong with the connection would be resolved soon. It was not to be.

As I write this column on Thursday afternoon, I’m effectively in an open ‘prison’, able to move around and eat my mother’s good food, but I cannot work or have a normal day of business. As I learnt later Tuesday evening, the Ugandan authorities had ordered the shutdown of Internet services. Mobile money services, sending and withdrawing, too, were disabled.

These drastic measures are not new as they are a replica of 2021, so we should have known they were coming. Yet, I was caught unawares two days to election day.

In today’s world, the Internet is a vital source. It is the lifeline of nearly everything we do, the singular act of shutting down Internet services, regardless of the damage to people’s lives and the unimaginable cost to businesses, is itself a mockery of what today, Thursday 15 January, is about: democracy.

No society can purport to be engaged in a democratic process, let alone claim to be a democracy, when authorities can summarily cut off channels of communication, particularly something as critical as the Internet.

Within the confines of my ‘prison’ in Bubulo, I just walked up to the polling station, less than half a kilometre from my house, to cast three ballots-one for president, another for a constituency Member of Parliament, and a third for a District Woman Member of Parliament.

I joined a not-so-long queue and patiently waited to reach the table of polling officials. They were organised and professional. Everything went well. I fulfilled my constitutional duty and exercised my fundamental right to vote.

But as I walked back home, I could not help but reflect on the sharp contradiction between, one the one hand, casting my vote for three candidates of my choice in word, at least at the face value, was a free and transparent process, and on the other, living under ‘prison-like’ conditions where I cannot communicate to the outside world, cannot access money through digital platforms, totally unable to attend to the many personal and professional tasks that necessarily require access to Internet services.

The stark irony here is that this ‘quasi-imprisonment’ is occasioned by the very process and activity of democracy, supposed to represent freedom and liberty. After two decades unable to cast a ballot, it was a sweet feeling exercising my franchise, yet I had to remind myself of the conditions of ‘capture’, as Dr Kizza Besigye has repeatedly underscored.

Voting again after 20 years, it’s jarring to realise that the conditions and circumstances of elections in Uganda today are arguably worse than when I last voted in 2006. I spoke to local compatriots here in the days and hours leading to the polls, and it was shocking to hear a rather dispiriting, common theme. That is, the extent to which people’s voting choices are heavily driven by monetary inducements.

The night before election day I had a heated argument with a cousin. He tersely and matter-of-factly told me that it is impossible to win an election here unless you can distribute money around. And as I walked to the polling station, I overheard a young woman say she would not go to vote because no one had given her money! This is what Uganda has been reduced to: a country where a citizen strongly believes their vote is for pay.

The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has a village structure of officials who, days to election day, were receiving small tokens of money, so openly and unabashedly. The crass and shameless distribution of cash for votes is only matched by the brazen and shocking deployment of the military in the service of the ruling party.

This denudation of the value of democracy through open bribery, I must hasten to add, is not the preserve of the ruling party and its candidates. Rather, it is a vice cutting across partisan lines and candidates of all hues and colours. The only difference is that the ruling party has access to the state treasury and all the coercive apparatus of government.

Those in Opposition are today doing on a small scale what they will most likely do on a grand scale, like the NRM, in the event they capture state power.

Self-evacuated Ugandan opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has demanded that the military immediately vacate his home, accusing polic and UPDF soldiers of intimidation and threats to his family, after a string of inflammatory tweets by President Museveni’s powerful son, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, triggered a fresh political storm following the disputed presidential election.

In a post on X on Tuesday morning, Bobi Wine said soldiers stationed at his residence had banged on doors overnight, hurled insults and blocked food supplies, hours after Muhoozi issued a 48-hour ultimatum ordering him to surrender to security forces.

‘Last night as Museveni’s son was making these threats to kill me and gloating over killing 22 of our supporters (in reality, he has killed over 100 since last week). We demand that the military vacate our home immediately. My wife and people are not safe. They’re starving after these criminals blocked food from reaching them. They cut the padlocks of our gates and replaced them with chains,’ Bobi Wine, who is in hiding, wrote.

He added that the soldiers appeared intoxicated, saying: ‘The people at my home say the criminals seemed to be drunk.’

A secretly filmed Monday news report by Buganda Kingdom-owned BBS Television suggested that drones-maintained patrols over his residence in Magere, Wakiso District, while on-ground security forces kept a heavy armed guard around the property, restricting access to supplies and visitors, including NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya.

The opposition leader’s reaction also followed a barage of posts by Gen Muhoozi, Uganda’s army chief, who late Monday night made multiple provocative statements targeting the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) and its leader.

In a post on his verified X account, which has over one million followers, Gen Muhoozi claimed: ‘We have killed 22 NUP terrorists since last week. I’m praying the 23rd is Kabobi.’

In another, he issued a direct ultimatum stating: ‘As for Kabobi, the permanent loser, I’m giving him exactly 48 hours to surrender himself to the Police. If he doesn’t, we will treat him as an outlaw/rebel and handle him accordingly.’

The army chief also declared: ‘I, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, am a prophet of Almighty God. Now I tell you that NUP will be removed and extinguished from our land like a bad dream!’

During his Sunday victory speech, Museveni alleged that the opposition planned ‘panga-terror’ attacks in areas where they lost. The opposition has denied the claim, with Bobi Wine previously saying the president is fed ‘fake intelligence given his age.’

‘I will resurface when I decide’

The posts, which also included statements praising the Ugandan, Rwandan, and Israeli militaries and reaffirming ties with Rwanda, sparked outrage online and renewed concerns about the militarization of Uganda’s politics.

Bobi Wine said the threats were linked to his escape from his heavily guarded home over the weekend, after security forces surrounded the property following the election.

‘You ordered the raid on my house to harm me! I beat you at your own game and escaped,’ he wrote late Monday, noting: ‘Anyway, I will resurface when I decide. Then you and your father can do whatever you want to me.’

Bobi Wine added. ‘But make no mistake – YOU WILL NEVER ESCAPE THE INEVITABLE CONSEQUENCES OF YOUR ATROCITIES AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF UGANDA. THIS IS OUR COUNTRY!’

Military policy?

The confrontation comes days after the Electoral Commission declared Museveni, 81, the winner of last week’s contested presidential election with 7,946,772 votes, representing 71.65 percent of ballots cast, securing a seventh five-year term.

Bobi Wine, his closest challenger, received 2,741,238 votes, or 24.72 percent. The opposition leader has strongly rejected the results, citing widespread irregularities, violence, and an intense security crackdown. The government and electoral authorities deny wrongdoing.

Gen Muhoozi’s comments, not for the first time, have intensified scrutiny of the army’s role in security operations, amid rising political tension in Uganda. State officials have previously indicated that his statements do not necessarily reflect government or military policy.

Victims of violence during Uganda’s January 15 presidential and parliamentary elections in Rukungiri District are demanding justice, saying they were assaulted during campaigns and on polling day amid heightened political tensions.

At least 12 people, mainly from Rukungiri Municipality, sustained injuries in scuffles and attacks linked to the election period, according to victims who spoke during a press conference held on Monday at the home of Ingrid Kamateneti Turinawe, the losing PFF party candidate for Rukungiri Municipality.

The EC on Friday declared retired Lt Gen Henry Tumukunde winner of the contested election by a narrow margin of 847 votes.

Official results showed Lt Gen Tumukunde polling 7,115 votes against Kamateneti’s 6,268, while two independent candidates, Dr Wallen Nuwagaba and Richard Akanyijuka, received 297 and 53 votes respectively.

One of the election violence victims, Amos Karamuzi, 46, a resident of Kigaga Ward in Southern Division, said he was badly beaten by unknown assailants and left unconscious.

‘I can’t clearly tell the group of people who beat me up to the point of being hospitalised, but I suspect Gen Tumukunde’s people were behind my attack,’ Karamuzi said, recounting events of January 14, a day before polling.

He said a vehicle blocked his car as he was returning from the home of his candidate with colleagues.

‘A group of thugs beat my car with sticks, pinched the tyres. I had no option apart from getting out of the car and that’s how I was beaten to the extent of being hospitalised for three days,’ he said.

Karamuzi, who was contesting for Kigaga Ward municipal councillorship on the PFF ticket, said he regained consciousness at Nyikabale Hospital after being rescued by a Good Samaritan.

His left arm was broken and tied in a sling.

‘I really need justice. I can’t support myself because my left arm was broken and I am now grounded,’ he said.

Another victim, Dickson Ahumumuza, 23, who was travelling with Karamuzi, said their attackers denied pleas for mercy.

‘They crashed us seriously. later my friend Karamuzi lost consciousness and they left him on the road near his car to die,’ he said.

Ahumumuza claimed he was later threatened with a gun before being tied and abandoned.

‘We are all Ugandans and it is my right to support a candidate of my choice,’ he said, calling on the government to address the violence.

Boaz Kamusiime, another victim, said he was attacked while riding in the official vehicle of Kamateneti, which was later abandoned with items including agent appointment letters and money missing.

‘I know people who attacked me on the night of January 14 as I was doing my work of distributing appointment letters of agents,’ Kamusiime said.

Wilfred Karamira said he was attacked on polling day while carrying declaration forms for Kamateneti and presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, adding that some forms were taken even after he sought refuge at Rukungiri Central Police Station.

While the Gen Tumukunde camp didn’t immediately react to the allegations, Rukungiri District Police Commander SSP Brian Ampire said police were following up the cases.

‘As police we are doing all it takes to maintain law and order in the district and at the moment the situation is normal,’ he noted.

Under Uganda’s Parliamentary Elections Act 2001, participation in election violence is punishable by a fine, imprisonment, or both.

Independent candidate Ritah Atukwasa Bwahika, who narrowly lost the Mbarara City Woman Member of Parliament seat to NRM’s Charity Kibaju Kamuhanda in last week’s general elections, has vowed to continue serving her constituents even while outside Parliament.

Speaking to the media on Monday, Ms Atukwasa emphasized that leadership extends beyond holding office.

‘I am a leader and there are many spaces where I can influence and create a difference in my country. I am not retired; I am just re-fired,’ she said.

She added that the five-year break from parliamentary duties would allow her to champion causes she is passionate about, including gender equality, poverty eradication, and advocacy for fair laws.

Ms Atukwasa commended her supporters for their resilience, noting the obstacles they faced during the campaign.

‘You promised to vote for me and you did overwhelmingly. You made your choice very clear. Despite intimidation from the rival camp, you put up a spirited fight. By the number of votes we gathered, we are winners; actually, those who declared a wrong candidate are the losers,’ she said.

The former MP appealed to the people of Mbarara City to remain active in their communities and focus on livelihood activities.

‘Let us give a chance for the few who have created a bit of impunity to determine leadership, where the voice of the people is sometimes suffocated. But I am thankful for the people of Mbarara City because you fought bravely amidst challenges. Now, let’s go back to work, concentrate on our income-generating activities, and remain engaged in the life of our city,’ she said.

She also expressed cautious optimism that the declared winner would deliver on promises. ‘I hope the person who was declared will be able to deliver, and history will judge,’ Ms Atukwasa said.

Despite her defeat, she underlined that her political engagement and service to the community will continue. ‘Participating in politics is not only about holding a seat. I am skilled in policy influence, and that is my greatest niche. I will continue to work for the people of Mbarara City in the areas of gender equality, poverty eradication, and ensuring fair laws,’ she said.

Election results

Five women contested the Mbarara City Woman MP seat. Charity Kibaju Kamuhanda (NRM) emerged the winner with 23,413 votes, narrowly defeating Ritah Atukwasa (Independent), who garnered 22,526 votes.

Irene (NUP) received 2,956 votes, Prossy Ayebare (PFF) 993 votes, and Abenaitwe Evas 396 votes.

Ms Atukwasa’s remarks come amid a broader conversation on the role of political leaders outside Parliament, highlighting alternative avenues for civic engagement and influence.

Her focus on policy advocacy and grassroots development underscores the ongoing importance of community-based leadership in Uganda.

Data released at the National Tally Centre has raised concerns about inconsistencies between voter turnout for the presidential election and the Kampala Woman Member of Parliament race. According to the Electoral Commission, about four hundred thirty thousand of approximately one point six million eligible voters cast ballots for President Yoweri Museveni in Kampala, drawn from just over two thousand three hundred polling stations out of two thousand seven hundred five.

However, the total ballots cast for all seven candidates in the Kampala Woman MP race, including invalid and spoiled ballots, was about three hundred forty thousand-a difference of roughly ninety-four thousand votes. Both elections took place on the same day, with voters receiving three ballot papers each: one for president, one for a woman MP, and one for a directly elected MP.

This discrepancy suggests that nearly ninety-four thousand voters in Kampala may have voted for president but did not cast a ballot for the Woman MP.

The Electoral Commission spokesperson Julius Mucunguzi initially said he could not verify the figures. ‘I don’t know whether what you are saying is factual or fabrication,’ he told reporters.

After receiving screenshots of the data, he suggested that some voters may have chosen to vote for one position and skip others.

“Some people can decide to vote for president only. It is possible for a voter to tick one candidate for one position and go. It is not a must that the voter must tick all the ballots. I do not have those facts. This may require auditing the figures to confirm what you’re saying. I can not confirm what you’re saying based on screenshots,” he said.

Human rights defender, Dr Livingston Ssewanyana, said the discrepancy warrants urgent clarification.

‘The voters were given three ballots. It is less likely that a person would vote for the president and not vote for the Woman MP. That points to the possibility of ballot stuffing or irregularities,’ he said.

Mucunguzi confirmed that an audit would be necessary to clarify the differences in turnout between the presidential and Women’s MP ballots. Unlike direct MPs, both the president and the woman MP are voted for by all eligible voters in a district, making the ninety-four thousand vote gap a serious anomaly.

The issue raises broader questions about the accuracy of election data and the integrity of the voting process in Kampala, a key political hub.

Observers are calling for the Electoral Commission to provide detailed explanations to maintain public confidence. The key questions are how did roughly ninety-four thousand voters reportedly cast a presidential vote but skip the Kampala Woman MP ballot?

Many are wondering whether this could this discrepancy indicate errors in ballot counting, reporting, or potential ballot manipulation.

More than 600 workers delegates yesterday convened at Kibuli Secondary School in Kampala Capital, where they elected five people who will represent them in Parliament. The positions included one National Female Workers Representative that attracted four candidates, and the four workers MPs that had 21 contenders. Ms Fiona Nakku, a National Resistance Movement-leaning independent candidate, trounced the incumbent and the party official flag bearer Agnes Kunihira Abwoli to win the National Female Workers Representative seat. Ms Nakku was declared the winner after garnering 290 votes against Ms Abwoli’s 287 votes.

Other contestants in the race were Abigail Atukunda, who scored 27 votes, and Phina Mugerwa Masanyalaze who got only one vote, which is believed to be hers. Those who won include Annet Burungi of NRM (358 votes), Independent candidate Agaba Gilbert (351 votes). Incumbent Arinaitwe Rwakajara (289 votes), incumbent Margaret Namubiru (207 votes). Incumbent Charles Bakkabulindi did not seek re-election. The incumbents who lost include Agnes Kunihira Abwoli (National Female Workers MP), Byakatonda Abdulhu Ms Nakku, a first-timer, turned her focus on the National Female Workers Representative seat after the party disqualified her from the NRM’s National Female MP Youth race after it was discovered that she was above the 30-year age cap.

NRM Electoral Commission Chairperson Dr Tanga Odoi in July had disqualified Nakku from contesting for the position of National Female Youth Member of Parliament flag-bearer after the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) confirmed that she is above the youth age limit. Nakku had previously contested for the Busia District Woman MP seat in 2021 but lost.

Promise

Speaking to the Daily Monitor yesterday, Ms Nakku said that she would ensure that the workers’ issues are handled swiftly by the government. ‘We have workers who walk long distances to go to their workplaces, especially factories but you find when they are paid Shs3,000 per day, which is too low. And on this low pay, the workers are not allowed to have sick leave. So their situation is dire and need urgent response that can only be done through proper legislation,’ she said She added: ‘My other focus is salary disparities among the science and arts teachers, which is affecting the learners.

All the teachers are doing their same job and their needs are alike, for example they buy in the same market, go to the same health centres, take their children to the same schools and thus they need to have a fair and equal pay.’ Like Fiona, Rwakajara also said he will continue advocating for the rights of workers. ‘We shall ensure that we implement our manifesto that is aimed at solving the challenges that are affecting workers in Uganda,’ he said. The elected Workers MPs joined the Directly Elected Representatives and District Women MPs who were elected on Thursday January 15, and declared between Friday and Saturday.

Other Special Interest Groups representatives including the regional Youth MPs, national Female Older Persons MPs, and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) MPs will be elected on January 28. Others including the Persons Living with Disabilities MPs and the National Female Youths Representative will be elected on February 3, and 6 respectively. Parliament numbers Upon completion of all polls, the Parliament will now be fully represented with 529 members.

Uganda’s opposition People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) said early Tuesday that the health of veteran dissident Dr Kizza Besigye had reached a ‘critical state,’ claiming he was rushed overnight from prison to a medical facility under heavy security.

In a statement posted on X at 2:31am on January 20, PFF said it had received ‘credible reports’ that Besigye was transferred from Luzira Prison to a medical facility in Kampala.

‘The People’s Front for Freedom wishes to inform the public and all supporters of freedom that the health of our leader, Dr Kizza Besigye, has reached a critical and deteriorating state,’ the party said, without specifying the condition he is battling.

‘We have received credible reports that Dr. Besigye was rushed in the night from Luzira Prison to a medical facility at Bugolobi Village Mall under heavy security,’ it added.

The party accused Ugandan authorities of denying Besigye proper medical care, noting that his continued detention amounted to a violation of his basic rights.

‘It is a tragedy that a man who has dedicated his life to the health and freedom of others is being denied his own right to medical dignity,’ PFF said, adding: ‘We hold the regime and the prison authorities fully accountable for his well-being.”

PFF demanded that Besigye’s personal doctors and family be granted immediate and unrestricted access, reiterating that he was being held ‘in total disregard of the law.’

‘He must be freed to receive the care he deserves,’ the statement said, calling on supporters to remain vigilant and keep the opposition leader ‘in your prayers.’

Monitor could not immediately verify the claims as prison authorities were yet to respond to our calls for comment by press time mid-morning Tuesday.

Besigye, a former personal doctor to President Museveni and one of his longest-serving political rivals, has unsuccessfully challenged the Ugandan leader in four elections.

He has been in detention for more than 350 days without trial, following his rendition from Nairobi and is facing treason-related charges.

During their last appearance before the Kampala High Court on December 30, 2025, Besigye, co-accused Obed Lutale and Capt Denis Oola entered not-guilty pleas by court order after declining to plead.

Justice Emmanuel Baguma later adjourned the case to January 21, 2026, for scheduling. Besigye and co-accused are expected to appear in court on that day.

‘Unprincipled blackmail?’

Early last year, Besigye was also reported critically ill after he went on hunger strike demanding justice.

In response, Museveni said: ‘Is that not unprincipled blackmail?’ Museveni asked. ‘How can you be accused of serious crimes and then your response is hunger strike to generate sympathy for getting bail? Why don’t you demand a quick trial?’

Museveni maintained that there was a government hospital in the prison to cater for Besigye and all inmates.

Uganda’s Electoral Commission (EC) has ordered a fresh parliamentary election in 18 polling stations in Ajuri County, Alebtong District, after uncovering serious discrepancies between declared results and polling station records.

The decision followed a complaint by Fred Jalameso, the opposition Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) candidate, who alleged that results announced earlier did not tally with figures recorded on official Declaration Forms.

Before the dispute, Jalameso was leading the tightly contested race with 14,321 votes (44.5 percent) after results from 160 of 178 polling stations were tallied.

He was followed by the incumbent Government Chief Whip Denis Hamson Obua of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), who had 12,963 votes (40.25 percent).

Other candidates included Emmanuel Ongom Okwel of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) with 2,848 votes (8.84 percent), while independents Stephen Omara and Jasper Molo polled 1,558 votes (4.84 percent), and Stephen Omara received 507 votes (1.57 percent).

Following Jalameso’s petition, regional elections officer Jackson Igenyi Babirye conducted a recount, which revealed significant irregularities.

The EC found cases ‘where votes attributed to Obua exceeded the number of registered voters, as well as empty ballot boxes in some polling stations, particularly in Awei Sub-county, Obua’s home area.’

The commission subsequently ordered a re-run scheduled for January 27, pledging ‘transparency and fairness.’

Polling stations affected include Apami Primary School in Abako Sub-county and several centres in Awei Sub-county, among them Arwot Primary School, Agogoro Primary School, Awei Sub-county headquarters, Ogogoro Primary School, Wigweng Chapel, Alengo Church of Uganda, and Owalo Primary School, among others.

Jalameso objected to the re-election decision, citing financial strain.

‘This is something we are not accepting, and we are saying the Electoral Commission must task the candidates who participated in the election to bring their Declaration Forms,’ he said in an interview on January 17.

He further alleged that undisclosed interests were influencing the process.

‘In other places, as long as three-quarters of polling station results are obtained, results are declared. But here, it appears the interest of someone is being protected,’ Jalameso argued.

Jalameso said his strong showing in the January 15 polls reflected voter frustration over poor education outcomes, deteriorating roads and high agricultural input costs.

He also accused Obua of mismanaging constituency development funds.

‘For four terms, Obua has mismanaged Constituency Development Funds and if each voter in Ajuri was to benefit, they would receive Shs70,000 each,’ he said.

Results for Moroto County and the Alebtong District Woman MP seat were declared earlier without incident.

Who is Jalameso?

Fred Jalameso is a teacher by profession. He holds a master’s degree in business administration from Lira University.

About Obua

Hamson Obua was first elected to the 8th Parliament (2006-2011) as the Youth Member of Parliament representing Northern Uganda. In 2011, he was elected to represent the newly created Ajuri County in Alebtong District.

He was re-elected in 2016 and 2021 and is the incumbent Member of Parliament. Following a Cabinet reshuffle on December 14, 2019, Obua was appointed State Minister for Sports, replacing Charles Bakkabulindi. He was sworn in on January 13, 2020, after parliamentary approval.

On August 16, 2022, Obua was appointed Government Chief Whip, a position he currently holds.

The victory of President-elect Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in last week’s General Election has been thrown into hands of the Supreme Court. Mr Robert Kasibante, one of the eight presidential candidates in the race, has petitioned the court seeking annulment of the poll over alleged widespread irregularities, violence, and non compliance with electoral laws. In a petition filed on January 17, Mr Kasibante of National Peasants Party sued President Museveni, the Electoral Commission (EC), and the Attorney General, arguing that the election held on January 15 was neither free nor fair and did not reflect the will of the Ugandan electorate.

‘The petitioner (Mr Kasibante), dissatisfied and aggrieved by the conduct of the elections held on January 15, 2026 for the position of President of the Republic of Uganda, hereby challenges the validity of the election through this petition. The petitioner contends that the election was neither free nor fair and was marked by non compliance with electoral laws,’ Mr Kasibante contends in his petition. He adds: ‘The first respondent (President elect Yoweri Museveni), either personally or through agents acting with his knowledge, consent, and approval, committed electoral offences and unlawful acts.

Consequently, the petitioner asserts that the first respondent was not legitimately elected and declared the winner of the presidential election.’ According to the Electoral Commission, Museveni was declared the winner with 7,946,772 votes, representing 71.65 percent of the total valid votes cast. Mr Robert Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine, of National Unity Platform, came in a distant second with 2,741,238 votes (24.72 percent), while Mr Kasibante garnered 33,440 votes, finishing in sixth place.

Other candidates included Nathan Nandala Mafabi of Forum for Democratic Change who came third with 209,039 (1.88 percent), Maj Gen Gregory Mugisha Muntu of Alliance for National Transformation who finished fourth with 59,276 (0.53 percent), Frank Bulira of Revolutionary People’s Party who came fifth with 45,959 (0.41 percent) and Mubarak Munyagwa of Common Man’s Party who finished seventh with 31,666 (0.29 percent). Mr Joseph Mabirizi of Conservative Party came eighth with 23,458 (0.21 percent). Mr Kasibante argues that the entire electoral process, from voter registration to tallying and declaration of results, was riddled with illegalities and gross violations of the Constitution, the Electoral Commission Act, and the Presidential Elections Act. He insists these irregularities substantially affected the final outcome.

Allegations against the EC Mr Kasibante accuses the EC of failing to act independently, alleging it was swayed by President Museveni, senior government officials, and ruling NRM leaders. He claims thousands of voters were unlawfully deregistered, Opposition candidates were unfairly blocked from nomination, and complaints raised during the election period were swept under the rug. A major ground of the petition relates to the alleged failure by the EC to gazette more than 15,000 polling stations ahead of polling day.

Mr Kasibante argues that these ungazetted stations, nearly 30 percent of all nationwide, were illegal and that votes cast there should be struck off the tally. He also challenges the use of Biometric Voter Verification (BVV) machines, which he says failed spectacularly. According to him, they were deployed without a proper legal framework, were unreliable, and never subjected to an independent audit. ‘The petitioner avers and contends that the process of counting, tallying, and transmitting results from the polling stations, to district tallying centres and finally to the national tallying centre lacked transparency,’ Mr Kasibante contends.

During last Thursday’s elections, widespread failure of BVV kits was reported, likely linked to the Internet shutdown. The glitches delayed voting by four or more hours at thousands of polling stations, forcing the EC to extend voting and revert to manual methods. Reports from Jinja, Wakiso, Mukono, Masaka, and Gulu districts indicated polling officials struggled to operate the machines. Mr Kasibante further alleges that candidates were denied access to inspect or test the systems used for verification and results transmission.

Violence and intimidation

Mr Kasibante accuses the President -elect and State security agencies of orchestrating widespread violence, intimidation, and harassment of Opposition candidates and supporters. He alleges that the UPDF and police disrupted rallies, assaulted candidates, and issued unlawful directives forcing voters to leave polling stations immediately after voting. He cites the Gulu incident where security personnel beat up several NUP supporters.

‘Candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, while campaigning in accordance with the harmonised campaign schedule, was severely subjected to violence and harassment. On December 6, 2025, while campaigning in Gulu, the army attacked and disrupted his campaign rally and other campaign events, beating up his supporters. The 2nd respondent (EC) acknowledged this violence,’ the petitioner stated. He added: ‘On November 28, 2025, while campaigning in Iganga Municipality, the army and the police attacked and disrupted the campaign events of candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, and a businessman was shot dead.’

Use of government resources

The petition also alleges misuse of state resources for campaign purposes, including government vehicles, security forces, public institutions, and state media. Kasibante claims state owned outlets such as New Vision and UBC provided wall to wall coverage in favour of Museveni. ‘Notably, the New Vision newspaper consistently featured the first Respondent on the front page, displaying full page coverage with images of the campaign activities throughout the entire election period,’ the petitioner said. He further claimed that government cars ferried supporters to Museveni’s rallies, school heads conscripted students to attend rallies, and public spaces like Entebbe Airport and Kololo Airstrip were off limits to other candidates.

Police and army vehicles allegedly doubled as campaign buses, while their spokespeople became mouthpieces for Museveni. Kasibante points to the Supreme Court’s 2016 recommendations after Amama Mbabazi’s petition, which urged equal access to state media for all candidates. He argues these were ignored, leaving Opposition voices drowned out. Kasibante’s petition also raises claims of voter bribery, improper inducements, abusive language by the incumbent, lack of transparency in tallying, alteration of declaration forms, restricted access to tally centres, and unexplained discrepancies between polling station and district results. Efforts to reach NRM officials Emmanuel Dombo and Tanga Odoi for comment were futile – calls went unanswered, leaving questions hanging in the air.

Prayers to the court

Kasibante asks the Supreme Court to declare Museveni not duly elected, nullify the results, order an audit of election returns and biometric systems, and direct the EC to conduct a fresh poll in strict compliance with the law. ‘Declare that Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Tibuhaburwa was not duly elected as President of Uganda accordingly,’ he prays to the court. Museveni’s victories have often ended up in the Supreme Court, though none of the petitions have succeeded. The last was in 2021, filed by runner up Kyagulanyi, who later withdrew citing alleged bias. The Supreme Court is yet to fix a hearing date. Under the Constitution, it must determine a presidential petition within 30 days of filing. By press time, it remained unclear whether Kyagulanyi would join Kasibante in challenging Museveni’s victory in court.

A magistrate’s court in Ntungamo District on Tuesday remanded 33 men suspected of involvement in election-related violence during the recent Ntungamo Municipality elections.

The men, who appeared before Principal Grade I Magistrate Christine Turibamwe, were ordered to remain in custody until February 9, when they will be allowed to apply for bail pending the conclusion of investigations.

At Tuesday’s hearing, no state attorney was present, preventing the court from taking pleas.

‘You have a right to apply for bail. However, at this moment we may not hear the application because the state is absent from court. You will be remanded until the 9th of February, when you will reappear for bail application,’ Ms Turibamwe said after all accused pleaded not guilty.

According to the charge sheet, the men are accused of being armed in public with the intent to cause confusion.

‘On the 15th day of January 2026 at Ntungamo town in Ntungamo District, you carried dangerous or offensive weapons, to wit: 13 pangas, 11 iron bars, 10 slashers, 3 pick axe wooden handles, and two electric wire pieces,’ the court document reads.

Police said the suspects were allegedly hired by Ntungamo Municipality MP Yona Musinguzi as election guards.

However, many were not locals, raising suspicion and leading to their arrest. Most of the accused are employed as bouncers in Kampala, alongside other professions including boda boda riding and IT services.

Those charged include Simon Peter Nyombi, a bakery attendant in Budo, Wakiso; Frank Sabiti, a bouncer at Urban Bar, Namungona; Augustine Tumwesigye, an IT specialist from Rukungiri District; Kofi Brown Muriisa, a bouncer with UBA Security; and Emmanuel Mugume, a boda boda rider.

Others are Fred Kasule Kirumira, Chris Mugisha, Akram Lubega, Aloysious Kayemba, Kiwanuka Joseph, James Kabasa, Edwin Nsereko, Mutwalibu Kibilige, Ali Ssebagala, Richard Matovu, Robert Sendinda Nsimbe, Edward Bossa, Godfrey Kazibwe, Jovan Ajaru, Ali Semakula, Frank Egesa, Simon Kasozi, Charles Kizza, Davis Ssekabira, Peter Makumbi, Hire Shamilu, Bashir Katongole, Joseph Tabura, Yasin Kabanda, and Richard Tumwesigye.

Mr Musinguzi lost the seat to former Youth MP Gerald Karuhanga, whom he had defeated in 2021 to enter the outgoing Parliament.

Ntungamo Municipality has a history of election-related violence. During NRM primaries, Mr Musinguzi was assaulted at a polling station, sustaining a head injury that required multiple brain surgeries.