By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
The Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) has strongly criticized security agencies over escalating violence in the ongoing presidential and parliamentary electoral campaigns, majorly targeting opposition candidates.
Muzeeyi Faizo, the head of media and communications at UPC says military brutality undermines democracy and electoral processes, calling for peaceful free and fair campaigns.
“UPC condemns the recent violent scenes captured during the campaign rallies of some the candidates in the ongoing election campaigns for 2026 across the country. Such brutal acts undermine the democratic electoral processes in the country and should be discouraged at all costs,” says Muzeyi Faizo.
Campaigns in Uganda have been marred with violence, with police and the military accused of using excessive force leaving hundreds of supporters, particularly those aligned to opposition candidates, wounded, dispossessed or fearing for their safety.
In different campaign rallies, security has used teargas, firing live bullets to disperse supporters of the National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine causing injuries and death. The NUP claims that about 100 people have so far been arrested, some charged since the campaigns begun in October.
Police says the suspects were arrested for holding illegal processions, assaulting police officers and vandalism while defending supporters of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) doing the same during campaign rallies of their candidate, H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
However, UPC says a peaceful free and fair campaign is attainable, urging the Electoral Commission to provide a leveled ground for all political actors during campaigns.
“Even at this eleventh hour, UPC calls upon all stakeholders to ensure peaceful campaigns and elections,” Muzeyi Faizo added.
